Punters who stayed up all night to watch Labour’s huge election landslide roll in have given their verdict on which broadcaster won the battle of the General Election TV coverage.
A few major channels suffered gaffes throughout the night including GB News which displayed a graphic that showed the Tories were down to win 410 seats with Labour on 131 – a landslide in the wrong direction.
The BBC had a few technical blunders, with its swing-o-meter appearing to break as Jeremy Vine presented from Cardiff, while a green screen failure made it seem as though Sophie Raworth and Jon Kay were floating heads.
Yet the strangest reaction by far came from the Sky News studio, who could be heard making some unusual noises as Labour’s predicted majority of 170 flashed up on screens.
Viewers were left stunned as presenter Kay Burley and Labour mayor of Manchester Andy Burnham let out a series of strange moans as they were left completely speechless.
GB News which displayed a graphic that showed the Tories were down to win 410 seats with Labour on 131 – a landslide in the wrong direction
The BBC’s swing-o-meter appeared to break earlier this morning as Jeremy Vine presented from Cardiff
Keir Starmer is congratulated by fellow Camden candidates Bobby ‘Elmo’ Smith and Nick ‘The Flying Brick’
And as news broke that Labour had won the General Election Sky News presented a shot of Larry the cat outside No 10
It prompted social media users to ask: ‘What is happening in the Sky News studio?!’
A replay of their reactions was shown moments later, with Mr Burnham seen nearly jumping out of his seat and raising his arms in the air as he sat next to a far from impressed Baroness Ruth Davidson, the leader of the Scottish Conservatives.
Words including ‘oh my God’ and ‘woah’ could also be heard from the team, which included political editor Beth Rigby, Sunday breakfast show presenter Sir Trevor Phillips, and data and economics editor Ed Conway.
Later on in the night, viewers at home blasted Sky News’ guests for ‘constantly talking over each other’ with some claiming it was ‘hard to watch’ while others branding the channel ‘amusingly chaotic’.
As coverage continued on into the night, with jubilant Sir Keir Starmer telling the public ‘we did it today’ after Rishi Sunak conceded the election, Sky news watcher called on guests and presenters to stop talking over each other.
‘Again. Sky presenters and pundits. Stop talking over each other. Sort out a system in advance where one person has the floor and you let do their bit. Kay can ask one question of one person at a time,’ one wrote.
Andy Burnham celebrated as he sat next to a far from impressed Baroness Ruth Davidson, the leader of the Scottish Conservatives
Broadcaster GB News suffered an early gaffe on election night, displaying a graphic that showed the Tories on track to win 410 seats and Labour set for 131 – the wrong way round
Laura Kuenssberg and Clive Myrie were much more measured as they revealed the exit poll
Another added: ‘Sky is amusingly chaotic. Am quite enjoying everyone talking over each other.’
A third said: ‘I’ve got Sky News on (don’t have BBC on the TV) and I was thinking that BBC would probably be much better. The panelists keep talking over each other.’
Over on Channel 4 viewers said they were ‘really impressed’ with the teams’ work, ran by Emily Maitlis and Krishnan Guru-Murthy, many calling it ‘the best coverage all day’.
Despite this, they still had a few run ins with former Tory minister Nadine Dories who accused fellow commentator Alastair Campbell of sexism before upstaging presenters to reveal Boris Johnson had been texting her.
Some of those pulling all-nighters switched to ITV, who were said to be giving more coverage to independent MPs than other candidates.
‘I reckon ITV again the better election night coverage — since 2017 I think they have done better on presenting and analysis despite not having the glitzy graphics,’ one wrote.
‘I’m channel hopping between BBC1, ITV and Channel 4 coverage,’ another added.
‘Think I prefer ITV as showing actual results as they come in but also Nicola Sturgeon’s face is a picture – she is clearly so uncomfortable being alongside Osborne and Balls.’
A third said: ‘ITV (whose coverage has been the best overnight in my opinion) just did a segment on the role of independent candidates in key races, and earlier unpacked how these races turned heavily on Gaza.
‘We’ve been channel-hopping, and I’ve not seen much on this elsewhere.’
Watchers have given their verdict on the best TV coverage on social media today
Viewers watching Channel 4 coverage earlier on in the night were left entertained when former culture secretary Ms Dorries clashed with former Labour spokesperson Mr Campbell just after the polls closed.
She also caused hilarity for those watching after Ms Maitlis appeared to struggle not to roll her eyes at one of her answers.
The staunch Boris Johnson loyalist said the projected results were a ‘disaster’ for the party, after an exit poll predicted the party would return just 131 seats.
Pressed on the meteoric rise of Reform, which is projected to get 13 seats, Ms Dorriess pointed out that the far-right party was polling in the low single digits while Mr Johnson was Prime Minister.
Mr Campbell then interrupted her and said: ‘You really need to get over Boris.’
Ms Dorries hit back: ‘I think that’s quite a sexist comment.’
Mr Campbell retorted: ‘It’s really not’.
Former Conservative Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries accused Alastair Campbell of sexism
Former Labour spokesperson Mr Campbell appeared on Channel 4’s election night coverage alongside Ms Dorries
The couple continued to trade blows throughout the programme with the presenters having to intervene at times.
Just a few minutes later there was another clash, this time between Labour’s Harriet Harman and the Conservatives’ Kwasi Kwarteng.
Ms Harman accused Mr Kwarteng of being ‘patronising’ in his response to her.
Ms Dorries cut in and said: ‘It’s up to me and Harriet to hold the men on this stage to account it seems.’
Earlier on in the night after the exit poll was announced, many viewers said they were switching off the BBC’s main coverage – bemoaning that Clive Myrie and Laura Kuenssberg were a ‘pointless double act’.
Several have taken to X to slam the tax-funded broadcaster for their ‘endless wittering’ and a lack of reporting from polling stations as the results roll in.
Others have described the BBC’s reportage as ‘misjudged’ , ‘dull’ with one comparing it to ‘one of their interminable and tedious podcasts’.
‘Have to say BBC National coverage of the general election is rubbish. BBC Scotland and Channel 4 [is] much better quality,’ one quipped.
Viewers have taken to social media to hit out at BBC’s general election coverage hosted by Clive Myrie and Laura Kuenssberg (pictured)
Several have taken to X (formerly Twitter ) to slam the tax-funded broadcaster for their ‘endless wittering’ as the results rolled in
‘The pointless double act of Myrie & Kuenssberg distracting from the results. BBC have made a real mess of their national coverage.’
A second quipped: ‘BBC coverage is weird – endless wittering while they actually have reporters at virtually every count.’
‘I think you might be right BBC national coverage has been terrible from Myrie/Keunssbergg. Terrible double act. Should’ve been sole anchor,’ a third shared.
‘It is extraordinary isn’t it? BBC coverage seems misjudged at many levels. Feels like one of their interminable and tedious podcasts,’ a viewer said.
‘My word, the BBC election coverage is soo dull. All the other channels are far superior,’ one penned.
Another added: ‘Unsure exactly why the BBC election coverage is so poor – they seem totally unable to keep up with the seat count whereas the Sky website is far better at keeping up (though still inexplicably saying that the Speaker’s seat has been won by the Tories…)’
‘I started to watch BBC coverage – so boring – gone back to GB News.’
