BBC Breakfast’s Naga Munchetty had to apologise during a guest appearance on the programme.
On Saturday’s episode, 7 June, Naga was joined on the iconic red sofa by co-host Charlie Stayt and two members of the five-piece British band Hardwicke Circus. They are about to become the first UK band to tour Ukraine after the war with Russia.
Charlie kicked off the introductions by saying, “So most musicians dream of going on tour. One British band is about to embark on one with a difference: it’s an eight-day tour of Ukraine.”
As Naga stepped in, taking over hosting duties, she introduced: “Hardwicke Castle will become the first UK band to tour the country since the war began, raising money…”
Realising she’d made a mistake, Naga turned to Jonny Foster, lead vocalist, and Tom Foster, drummer of the band, who were currently off camera, to offer up her apologies.
“Did I say Castle? I should have said Circus, sorry,” the host backtracked as she told viewers: “I got them both here. Hello. We will talk about this.”
“So, Hardwicke Circus, touring the country to provide aid to parts of the country, take a listen,” added the TV star. After a short clip about the band played out on screens, Jonny and Tom Foster explained they were incredibly busy, heading straight to Carlisle after the interview with Naga and Charlie, to play the Big Weekend Festival before “hitting the road for Europe.”
“You’re certainly putting the miles in because then after that you have these gigs in Ukraine,” gasped host Charlie, adding: “Do you just want to fill people in, how did this one come about? Why you? Why now?”
Jonny explained, “Well, we believe that hopefulness is everything the world is about. The world might seem like a very scary place at the moment, but we really think that music can inspire people.
“And so, this tour of Ukraine is our demonstration, our show of solidarity with the Ukrainian people for their freedom and peace in their country.”
Naga, however, had other fears for the Foster duo, wanting to know about their plans to play music to fans in what is currently a war zone: “What do you know about the logistics there? You know this is a country where various cities have been ravaged,” she stated.
Tom responded: “We’re from Carlisle, that northern city in England, right? Hard Kyiv, where John and I will end up, is an eastern city in Ukraine, one of the most eastern points in Europe, actually.”
The drummer went on to highlight: “Lads over there, our age, are fighting on the front line for their countries and their families. It’s just part of their lives now; it doesn’t define them. That’s why we’re taking music, which is a huge part of it.”
In answer to her question, he outlined: “And the logistics, I could sit on this very comfy sofa that you have here and give you ONE hundred reasons why not to go, but logistics being one of them.”
BBC breakfast airs every day on BBC One from 6am.