Feet on the desk and cell phone in hand, this is the awkward moment a BBC anchor was clearly unaware.

As Ros Atkins reports live on the unfolding drama of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson clinging desperately to his leadership amid mounting rebellion, cameras cut back into the studio to reveal news anchor Tim Willcox leaning back in his chair. with his feet on the desk, checking his phone.

Willcox looks up and realizes he was in the air, he hastily swings his feet off the desk and puts his phone down – but not before being caught by thousands of viewers.

Social media users were quick to catch the blunder, with many calling it a “moment of slight relief”.

One user tweeted: “I’m sure I’m not the only one who just saw the reporter live on BBC news with his feet on the desk.”

Another added: “Congratulations to #bbcnews for cutting Ros Atkins short to an anchor with his feet on the desk.”

And a third commented: “BBC News accidentally went out of their news studio and showed a presenter in full relaxation mode, his feet on his desk, hypnotized by his iPhone.”

And there was this from another; “Accidentally cutting away at Tim Willcox with his feet on the news desk and checking his phone was a moment of enlightenment on the BBC News Channel.”

The hilarious moment came amid a crisis in the ruling Conservative Party, with Johnson experiencing the highest number of MP resignations from any prime minister in 90 years.

At least 44 MPs resigned, but Johnson remained defiant and promised to fight on.