BBC Blunder: Reporter Calls Tornado a ‘Volcano’ in Manchester Storm Chaos
BBC viewers were left in stitches when a reporter hilariously mixed up her words and claimed a volcano had hit Greater Manchester — instead of a tornado. The gaffe came during coverage of Storm Gerrit’s havoc in Stalybridge, Tameside, which saw over 100 homes wrecked.
Fiona Trott’s Fiery Slip-Up on Live TV
BBC North of England correspondent Fiona Trott was on the ground reporting the storm damage when she said, “That was the path of the volcano,” rather than the tornado’s route. The slip quickly sparked a social media frenzy, with viewers cracking jokes about an imaginary volcanic eruption in Manchester.
- One viewer on X (formerly Twitter) laughed: “Crying laughing!! Volcanoes in Manchester. Whatever next?”
- Another quipped: “BBC 6pm News tonight. Poor old Manchester – a tornado and a volcano!”
Neither Fiona nor the BBC has publicly responded to the comical error.
Storm Gerrit Leaves Devastation in Its Wake
The real culprit behind the destruction was Storm Gerrit’s powerful supercell, which hit the North of England just before midnight on Wednesday. With winds clocking up to 85mph, the storm damaged homes, brought down trees, and blocked roads in Stalybridge — prompting a town hall meeting for support.
Meteorologists suspect a tornado caused the worst damage in the area. Locals described the event as totally unprecedented, though thankfully, no injuries were reported.
Fiona Trott No Stranger to Live Mishaps
This isn’t Fiona’s first live TV challenge. In 2021, she faced hecklers during a report on a hospital bombing, with onlookers shouting over her broadcast in an attempt to disrupt the coverage.
Now, with Manchester recovering from the storm chaos, viewers will fondly remember the bizarre moment the BBC accidentally blamed a volcano for the city’s weather nightmare.
