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BBC presenter forced to deny pregnancy rumour after being congratulated by viewers

Her response was hilarious!

BBC business presenter Steph McGovern had an awkward encounter with social media this week.

She’d appeared on BBC Breakfast to discuss the collapse of huge multi-national firm Carillion, and sat on the sofa discussing the news with the show’s hosts Dan Walker and Louise Minchin.

Wearing a sensible grey jumper and trousers, Steph spoke with confidence about the issue, which could potentially cost thousands of people their jobs.

Steph said: “For a lot of people [liquidation is] very unusual for a company, so they’re thinking ‘What on earth does it mean for me?'”

However, eagle-eyed viewers thought they’d spotted some other news as-yet-unannounced by the 35-year-old.

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Some thought they’d spotted a blossoming baby bump underneath her jumper!

Steph came off air to find several messages of congratulations on her “news”, and took to Twitter to set the record straight.

She said: “For those who are congratulating me on my ‘pregnancy’ I am not ‘with child’, I am ‘with pot belly'” – followed by a pig’s face emoji!

Fans were beside themselves at the hilarious retort, retweeting the message hundreds of times and replying in droves.

One said: “Such outspoken honesty is why your audience loves you as a presenter and trusts you as a journalist”.

Another wrote: “You’re so funny! Keep it up”.

Steph made her debut on BBC Breakfast all the way back in 2012, and made headlines in October when she was heard swearing off-air – for which Susanna Reid had to apologise!

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Steph’s also presented lots of other business or money-focused programmes for the BBC, including Can Britain Have a Pay Rise? alongside James O’Brien.


Nancy Brown
Acting Editor