The seconds leading up to BBC star’s middle finger gaffe revealed: Video shows how newsreader Maryam Moshiri ended up swearing live on air after counting down from 10 to one while joking with staff

An extended video shows the seconds leading up to BBC main presenter Maryam Moshiri's middle finger mistake earlier this month – after the veteran presenter revealed the mistake was a 'private joke' with her crew.

BBC CCTV footage showed Ms Moshiri, 46, counting down from ten on her fingers as the team prepared to go live. The presenter makes a series of exaggerated gestures with her hands before reaching 'one' and the camera appears to 'pan away'.

Ms Moshiri apologized after the end of the clip was broadcast live and went viral when a BBC News bulletin on December 6 began with the presenter holding up her middle finger to the camera.

“I was joking with the team in the gallery,” she explained. 'I pretended to count down while the director told me to count down from 10-0…including the fingers to show the number. So from 10 fingers held up to one.

“When we got to 1 I twirled my finger (sic) as a joke and didn't realize this was going to be caught on camera. It was a private joke with the team and I'm so sorry it went on air (…) I wasn't really 'flipping the bird' on the viewers or even on a person.”

The presenter gestures 'two' to the camera in a series of exaggerated gestures

The main presenter seems to quickly realize she's live and yanks her hand away, moving into a more appropriate position as she begins reading out the headlines.

Ms Moshiri denied on Twitter today that she or the BBC had released the extended video.

“So someone released the full video! It wasn't the BBC that released this, and it certainly wasn't me!

“But in a way I think I'm glad this is there because it shows that I was joking with the crew during the countdown.”

“Again, we're sorry it went on air. It was meant as a private chuckle.”

The message was viewed 6.5 million times.

One user in the comments asked if she knew at the time it had aired.

The host clarified that she “had no idea until I started reading the teleprompter and the director said, 'I think that went out.'

TV personality Rylan Clark dropped a remark: 'Honey, iconic. I want to send you flowers to celebrate x'

Scottish singer-songwriter Amy Macdonald said: 'We all loved it! Don't apologize. Made my day'

Ms Moshiri received an outpouring of support after her apology was shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, on December 7.

BBC radio presenter Greg James wrote: 'Apology rejected. It's the best thing ever. You should be promoted if anything x'

Comedian Dara Ó Briain added: 'You're a legend, things like this happen, so ignore everything except people laughing at you. All the best, x'

Others suggested the gesture showed a lack of professionalism, before the full clip was released.

One user wrote on Twitter in response to Mr Ó Briain: 'Can you ever imagine Moira Stewart, George Alagiah or Alistair Burnett doing something like this? How has a once great institution fallen!'

“Oh, relax,” the comedian shrugged.

Ms Moshiri was announced earlier this year as part of a new line-up of top BBC News presenters.

She spent 16 years as a presenter on various BBC business programmes, working on the news channels Radio 4 and BBC Breakfast and presenting the 8pm news round-up on BBC1.

Ms Moshiri became presenter of BBC World Service and BBC News in 2019 and led several flagship programs before taking on the role of main presenter in February.

In September, Moshiri made headlines with her hilarious, improvised image of a rare blue supermoon when a photo of the lunar event failed to appear on screen

In September, Ms. Moshiri made headlines again with her hilarious, improvised depiction of a rare blue supermoon, when no photo of the lunar event appeared on screen.

Thinking quickly, the presenter said: 'I'm so sorry, I don't have a picture to show you' and held up her hands in a circle shape to represent the moon.

“It looked a little like this,” she improvised, to end the segment. 'There you go. Super moon. Greetings. I see you soon.'