Dan Walker gets called out for yawning on air, and we know how he feels

Virgin Radio

12 Jul 2021, 12:45

How well did you sleep after England’s devastating penalty shoot-out loss to Italy in the final of Euro 2020? If you’re anything like TV presenter Dan Walker, you didn’t have a particularly good night’s rest. On today’s BBC Breakfast (12th July), he admitted how tired he was and, boy, we all feel his pain, don’t we?

With the Three Lions’ match going to extra-time and then penalties, it was close to 11pm before the drama reached its sad conclusion, meaning that most of the country eventually crawled under the sheets way past their usual bedtime. And with hearts still racing, it certainly wasn't easy getting to sleep.

So, when alarm clocks rang out on this miserable Monday morning, it was an even more unwelcome sound than usual. Spare a thought then, for Dan Walker, who gets up at 3am to present BBC Breakfast. It was little wonder that he was questioned by his co-host, Louise Minchin, as to whether he’d had a bit of a yawn in the studio during the show.

Sitting next to Louise on the sofa, Dan said, “We are trying our best to put a smile on your face for our England fans this morning…” before pausing for a big breath, during which his co-presenter chipped in, “...and not yawn on air. Did I just catch you yawning then?”

Dan responded, “No, I'm just trying to scratch my arm and pinch myself a bit to keep myself awake!”

The former Football Focus presenter then went on a bit of a ramble to vent his frustration at England’s defeat, saying, “It's the euphoria and then… argh... the heartache at the end. It was on the plate. Italy had two penalties saved by Jordan Pickford. When are you going to get a chance to win a major final when the team you're playing against only score three penalties?”

Presenter Sally Nugent, on a live video link from Wembley then said, “Have you had no sleep, Daniel?” 

The host responded, “I was lying in bed at 1.30am, thinking about what Gareth Southgate could have done differently, who should have taken the penalties, trying to think of the positives, and then I woke up at 3 o'clock, ready to go at 3 o'clock like normal."

It’ll be an early night for Mr Walker tonight, we think. And, let's be honest, for the rest of us too!

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