Latest news with #JohnMaguire
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Reporter descends tower landmark on live TV
A BBC reporter has become the 50,000th person to abseil down the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth. John Maguire undertook the challenge live on BBC Breakfast earlier, descending 100m (330ft) down the 170m (560ft) landmark. The tower, which marks its 20th anniversary in October, has had more than five million visitors since it opened. As he descended, Maguire told viewers and presenters Charlie Stayt and Naga Munchetty: "You get the most extraordinary view... I must say it is rather disconcerting." You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X, or Instagram. More on this story Watch: 90-year-old woman abseils down 100m tower Watch: Unique drone footage shows tower dive Exercise simulating tower disaster gets underway Related internet links Spinnaker Tower
BBC News
4 days ago
- BBC News
Reporter descends Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth on live TV
A BBC reporter has become the 50,000th person to abseil down the Spinnaker Tower in Maguire undertook the challenge live on BBC Breakfast earlier, descending 100m (330ft) down the 170m (560ft) tower, which marks its 20th anniversary in October, has had more than five million visitors since it he descended, Maguire told viewers and presenters Charlie Stayt and Naga Munchetty: "You get the most extraordinary view... I must say it is rather disconcerting." You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
BBC Breakfast viewers left concerned for a reporter as he loses communication with studio during dangerous stunt
BBC Breakfast viewers were left worried when the hosts 'lost communication' with a star who was abseiling down a 170-metre tall tower in a risky stunt. During Friday's installment of the show, reporter John Maguire celebrated the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Spinnaker Tower by abseiling down its sheer face. The Portsmouth building is 170 metres tall, and operates as an observation point- offering expansive 23-mile views. Hosts Naga Munchetty, 50, and Charlie Stayt, 63, chatted to John and updated viewers on his progress throughout. However John, who was the 50,000th person to abseil the tower, couldn't quite conceal his fear as he anticipated the worrying drop below him. Maintaining composure, he spoke steadily to the camera: 'I feel as if I'm in extremely safe hands, strapped in. During Friday's installment of the show, reporter John Maguire celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Spinnaker Tower by abseiling down its sheer face '100 metres down we are, the tower itself, Spinnaker Tower, is 170 metres high. That's pretty high, isn't it?' he shared. 'You get the most extraordinary view, there's a warship just coming in just below me there. 'I must say, it is rather disconcerting. The one thing I haven't done so far is I haven't been brave or dark enough to look down, other than looking down from the top. 'Well, what a wonderful thing to be doing on a Friday morning.' As John continued his descent, the microphone connecting him to the studio cut out, and Naga and Charlie hastily interrupted with an update amid fears for the star. 'Well, I'm delighted, John, that it's not too windy for you. We have a shot of you on the Spinnaker Tower, he looks like a bug,' Naga said. Charlie chimed in to soothe concerned watchers, saying: 'The way this has worked is we've lost communication with John. We can still hear him talking, but we can't speak to him. 'We were told sort of two-thirds of the way down that we'd lose communication with him, but you can see him gradually moving his way down and talking at the same time, very impressive.' Host Charlie explained that they had lost communication with John when he was about two-thirds of the way down Watchers at home waited with baited breath, fearing something could have gone wrong in John's descent. But their worries were soon quelled when he reached the bottom minutes later, and said of his experience: 'It was exhilarating and a little bit terrifying... I had my eyes closed most of the way down.' Showing his shaking hands to the camera, he joked: 'The lift only takes 30 seconds, I should have done that.' Matt Taylor, who accompanied brave John and was delivering live weather updates, praised the thrill-seeker, saying: 'To be fair John, you took that very well. Very, very brave. 'I've been looking from down here and that platform looks a bit shaky to me.' Viewers rushed to social media to express their concern for John, with one writing: 'Sod that.' Another said: 'This is some live Noel Edmunds disaster s***,' while a third added: 'John Maguire abseils down Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth. It's official! BBC Breakfast is going 10 per cent Blue Peter.'
