BBC viewers in fits over hilarious vacuum cleaner innuendo

Julia Hunt
BBC presenter Peter Levy (BBC)
BBC presenter Peter Levy couldn't stop laughing. (BBC)

Viewers were in fits after the BBC inadvertently aired a seriously cheeky joke about a vacuum cleaner.

Regional show Look North had asked people to share what their oldest household appliances were – and got more than it bargained for when one person sent in a snap of an ancient vacuum that he said “blows as well as sucks”.

Host Peter Levy also started to laugh when he read out the comment.

Read more: BBC News presenter caught off-guard in on-air blunder

The TV star was showing some of the pictures that had been sent in, including a 30-year-old tumble dryer that had to be taped closed to work and a microwave that owner Maggie said had been used most days since she bought it in 1983.

He then shared a picture of an old vacuum, saying it had been sent in by someone named Mal.

Peter Levy thought it was hilarious. (BBC screengrab)
Peter Levy thought it was hilarious. (BBC screengrab) (BBC screengrab)

Reading out the description, he said: "When we married in 1971 my grandmother gave us an Electrolux vacuum cleaner.

"Which she says was older than my mother who was born in 1929.

"Near enough 100 years old."

Starting to laugh, Levy went on: "Apparently, Mal goes on to say, it still works, and is handy, as it blows as well as sucks!"

He roared with laughter after reading out the innuendo, and viewers thought it was hilarious too, with many posting messages on Twitter saying it was exactly what they needed.

One tweeted: "This is why we pay the Licence Fee. You don’t get this on Netflix!"

Another said it was "glorious content".

"This is basically the best advert for this country that has ever been invented," said another.

Viewers said the funny segment was exactly what they needed. (BBC screengrab)
Viewers said the funny segment was exactly what they needed. (BBC screengrab) (BBC screengrab)

"After a bit of a rough day, this was needed," someone else posted.

"I haven't laughed like this in a while," said another viewer.

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"We all needed that this week."

"This was so funny, loved it!" said another.

"Takes a lot to corpse Levy - great work Mal," remarked somebody else.

Watch: Huw Edwards' friend says claims against 'very vulnerable' presenter are 'against everything I know about the man'

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