Channel 4 went down once again on Wednesday afternoon and the picture viewers were met with couldn’t have been more appropriate.
The channel froze during a discussion about superstition on Steph’s Packed Lunch, with viewers being met with a static image of comedian Dane Baptiste with the on-screen text read: “Nightmare on Elm Street… Are you superstitious?”
Steph’s Packed Lunch has fully embraced the joke and updated their Twitter header and main image to the frozen image of Baptiste.
Joining in on the fun, the show’s host Steph McGovern tweeted that Baptiste held the pose for ten minutes, before later sending a tweet claiming a stunt double had to step in:
In the end Dane sent in his stunt double to take over the position: pic.twitter.com/iGZeFtkbbc
— Steph McGovern (@StephLunch) October 27, 2021
The man himself also joined in on the Twitter banter, tweeting: “If you’re gonna ask me about nightmares on Elm Street, odds are I’m gonna freeze up. I don’t do horror.”
If you’re gonna ask me about nightmares on Elm Street, odds are I’m gonna freeze up. I don’t do horror🧟♀️🧟🧙🏿🧙🏿🧙🏾♀️
— Dane Baptiste/A$ap BAP/Joke Dza 🤡👊🏾♥️👨🏾🚀🌍 (@DaneBaptweets) October 27, 2021
But I do comedy; so catch me on @PackedLunchC4 for more views!! https://t.co/EajiFcRMP8
In another tweet he said: “How many comics can say they broke Channel 4. THIS GUY!”
How many comics can say they broke @Channel4. THIS GUY!
— Dane Baptiste/A$ap BAP/Joke Dza 🤡👊🏾♥️👨🏾🚀🌍 (@DaneBaptweets) October 27, 2021
Not the pose I would have picked but you do your work and get your opportunities when you can.
As you can see; I’ve gone for prayer here. #Ch4packedlunch https://t.co/9KfmDWlxKp
The channel resumed broadcasting at a slight delay after around 20 minutes.
During that time, people took to Twitter to share their confusion, and of course, to poke fun at the channel:
#channel4 right now, trying to get back on before #countdown pic.twitter.com/3r4whKNOjO
— ItsLemonPunch (@ItsLemonPunch) October 27, 2021
I had a proper barny with wife thought she sat on the remote and broke it 🤣👍🏼
— Darren Foster (@Saggymess) October 27, 2021
Channel 4 when it breaks pic.twitter.com/1e3MhufKUu
— Emily (@Pair_chan) October 27, 2021
U ok @Channel4? #stephspackedlunch pic.twitter.com/xQ5T5A5hnk
— ᵏⁱⁿᵍ ˡᵒᵒⁿᵍ ʷᵒⁿᵍ (@kingprawnball) October 27, 2021
Oh no it’s frozen has he been possessed !! #stephspackedlunch pic.twitter.com/chzrMjXY7I
— Aiden -Leeds 🇬🇧 (@AidenLeeds) October 27, 2021
Some wondered what Baptiste was looking at - was he looking at a lightbulb, or perhaps a special guest with razor-sharp fingers clad in a striped shirt and top hat?
I love the fact the image froze at the exact same moment this chap met Freddy Krueger’s gaze (Freddy naturally hiding in the rafters of the Channel 4 production studio). https://t.co/8i7I7ZES9U
— Stephen McNeice (@maccytothedee) October 27, 2021
When channel 4 frozen! When you look at the ceiling you forgot to change the light bulb!? 💡 #stephspackedlunch pic.twitter.com/DSVSE7oQQZ
— MVPNRS I was in London 1992 (@mvpnrs) October 27, 2021
What’s he looking at? #stephspackedlunch pic.twitter.com/s0J8ULkStS
— Joe (@JoeTheFknUnit) October 27, 2021
Replying to a tweet, Baptiste revealed that thankfully, it wasn’t Mr Krueger that caught his eye.
Rather, it was: “Career, ambition, love, children.” He added: “It’s all almost within reach.”
Career, ambition, love, children. It’s all almost within reach 😄
— Dane Baptiste/A$ap BAP/Joke Dza 🤡👊🏾♥️👨🏾🚀🌍 (@DaneBaptweets) October 27, 2021
In a tweet, Channel 4 said: “We’re sorry about our tech hiccup this afternoon and hope you can now view as normal. Further updates will be posted here.”
We're sorry about our tech hiccup this afternoon and hope you can now view as normal. Further updates will be posted here.
— Channel 4 (@Channel4) October 27, 2021
In a statement to indy100, a Channel 4 spokesperson said: “We experienced a short outage due to the ongoing challenges of broadcasting via our emergency back-up site.”
Channel 4 and More4 previously suffered disruption on 25 September, with Channel 4 and ITV later suffering another major outage on 11 October.
E4 also experienced a scheduling issue at the beginning of October when a rerun of Married at First Sight UK played instead of the scheduled finale. This was due to the ongoing “tech issues” the network experienced at the time.
As we count down the days to Halloween, we’re certain the latest outage gave the staff at Channel 4 a scare.
