Entertainment
Celebrities wheezing as BBC’s Clare Balding praises Team GB swimmers’ ‘phenomenal third leg’ in innuendo gaffe
Love a bit of innuendo (Picture: BBC)
The stars have well and truly lost it after BBC host Clare Balding sent Tokyo Olympics fans into a spin by praising Team GB swimmers Tom Dean and Matt Richards for an ‘incredible third leg’.
It came after Great Britain was triumphant in the men’s 4x200m freestyle relay with the team just missing out on a new world record.
Tom Dean, Duncan Scott, James Guy and Matthew Richards saw off the Russian Olympic Committee in second, securing the win via a sizable margin of 3.23 seconds and within 0.03 seconds of a new world record.
The athletes were chatting with Balding after their win on Wednesday, when she told Richards ‘your third leg was just phenomenal’.
Clearly noticing the innuendo – with third leg a slang term for male genitalia – both lads struggled to hold it together as they smirked and held in their giggles.
Richards managed to keep his cool in the end, replying: ‘Yeah I mean I haven’t actually had a chance to watch it back yet. I’ve tried to find it. To be honest I’m having some trouble finding the video of the race.’
The lads stifled their laughter (Picture:BBC)
They may have one gold in the pool but someone hand them a medal for their poker faces.
While BBC viewers were in hysterics at the gaffe, with social media alight with memes and reactions aplenty, the moment didn’t go unnoticed by the celebrities.
Sharing the clip to Instagram, Kate Beckinsale couldn’t believe what she’d just seen. But, on reflection, couldn’t hide her pride for her countrypeople.
She wrote: ‘Rarely have I felt prouder to be British or more invested in the Olympics.’
Loose Women’s Nadia Sawalha reacted to the clip overnight, writing: ‘I’m dying!!!’
In fits of laughter, Naomi Watts chimed in: ‘Bahahahahaha 😂😂😂😂.’
Both Selma Blair and Paris Hilton added laughing emoji, while Towie’s Vas J Morgan wrote: ‘What just happened.’
The Tokyo Olympics is almost at the end of its first week and it’s been another superb day for Team GB, who continue to climb up the medal table.
More: Paris Hilton
Thursday saw Beth Shriever claim BMX gold, the rowing team sign-off with a bronze, swimmer Duncan Scott collects his third Tokyo medal with silver in the 200 metres individual medley while Luke Greenbank won bronze in the men’s 200m backstroke.
Great Britain is sitting sixth on the medal tally, with 24 medals under the belt: six gold, nine silver and nine bronze.
MORE : BBC defends ‘shambolic’ Olympics coverage again after more complaints about schedule
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
