ITV Lorraine Star Reflects on Appearing Drunk Live on Air
Dr Hilary Jones, a regular guest on Lorraine Kelly's ITV show, revealed a memorable incident when he appeared on the programme while under the influence of alcohol, later apologising to the producers.
Dr Hilary's Early Experience on Lorraine
The 72-year-old doctor, known for his medical expertise on the show, recalled a moment early in his appearances when his professionalism faltered during a live segment.
“I’d run the New York Marathon and I had met up with two of my brothers to celebrate. Of course, I hadn’t eaten, hadn’t drunk, and there was a lot of beer. I was scheduled to do a live segment from a remote studio in Times Square with Lorraine on her show.”
Live Broadcast Incident
Trying to adjust the remote camera, Dr Hilary suddenly found himself live and fielding questions from Lorraine while under the influence. He described the experience:
“All I remember was giggling and laughing and talking rubbish because I was actually a bit drunk. Afterwards I thought, ‘They’re going to sack me, I’ve made a big faux pas. What did I say?'”
Apology and Response from the Show
Worried about the consequences, Dr Hilary called the show's producers the next day to apologise. They reassured him:
“I phoned them and said, 'I’m really sorry' and they said, ‘Why? You sounded brilliant, you just sounded happy! You sounded euphoric and it was really energetic and lovely.’ So, I got away with it.”
Summary
Dr Hilary Jones shared a lighthearted story about unintentionally appearing drunk on air, showing that moments of vulnerability can sometimes be met with kindness and understanding in live broadcasting.