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The Story Behind The Bloke Who Winds Up Behind UK News Broadcasts

The Story Behind The Bloke Who Winds Up Behind UK News Broadcasts

It's believed he's videobombed more than 100 live news reports - but he says he's doing it for a good reason...

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

Because technology has advanced us to a certain point, it means big things for reporters trying to provide live and up-to-date information. Instead of filming a piece to camera, bringing it back to the studio and uploading it through their system, they can stand at a certain point, at any time of the day or night and broadcast their news live.

Invariably, that also comes with the issue often associated with live news: the possibility of the unexpected.

That's where Paul Yarrow comes in.

Credit: Channel 4/ITV

The London gentleman has often found himself in the background of press conferences or reporter's broadcasts on ITV, the BBC and Channel 4. Yarrow, who's in his mid-40s, often has a blank look on his face and literally just stands there.

He's not like that dickhead who will wave to the camera as if mum is watching right there and then - Yarrow just wants his face on the telly.

But it's not because he's desperate for his 15 minutes of fame - it's actually for a pretty decent reason. Yarrow's trying to highlight his view that news organisations only employ reporters who are good looking.

He's told the Evening Standard: "Being overweight, I get ignored. I could have a valid point about something but the microphone is always passed to the person alongside me. The point I am making is that the more you push me aside, the more I'm going to be determined to make my presence known."

Paul Yarrow
Paul Yarrow

Credit: BBC

But while he featured on local or national broadcasts, he hit the big time when Russel Howard mentioned his exploits on his BBC show. That got him infamy for all the wrong reasons because the comedian described him as 'the fat guy who just wants to get on TV'.

Yarrow tells the newspaper: "I was really quite angry because that was not what I wanted, and that is the perception - fat people are treated as humorous or not bright and I am this comedy character but that is not the statement I wanted to make."

It's believed he first started doing his trademark appearances in late 2009 and always wore a beige sweater. He took a few months off his hobby, but was seen again nearly 12 months later and has had regular appearances since.

Sometimes he'll stare the camera dead in the lens, other times he'll be on his phone or even reading a newspaper. Whichever way he wants to conduct himself in the background is his call, at least he's highlighting something that he strongly believes in.

Sources: Evening Standard

Featured Image Credit:

Topics: UK News, BBC, Interesting, Community, Weird, ITV