It was supposed to be a routine news bulletin — but things quickly went off-script in the most unexpected way.
Veteran news anchor Jayne Secker, 53, found herself battling a relentless case of hiccups live on air, turning a serious space update into a painfully awkward — and slightly comical — moment viewers won’t soon forget.
Secker was delivering a major update on the Artemis II mission during a Sky News broadcast on Thursday when the hiccups struck mid-sentence.
“The wait is over,” she began confidently. “After more than half a century, astronauts are finally on their way back—hiccup—to the moon!”
Cue the uncomfortable pause.
While footage of the mission rolled on screen — conveniently sparing viewers from seeing her reaction — the audio told the whole story. The hiccups kept coming, breaking up her delivery as she struggled to maintain control.
“Artemis II are currently orbiting the Earth,” she continued, clearly trying to push through the disruption. “Tonight their rocket is due to change direction and head towards its destination.”
But the hiccups weren’t done with her yet.
After another brief pause, Secker pressed on: “Back down on the ground, the launch was watched by thousands, some of whom had traveled halfway across—hiccup—the world.”
Behind the scenes, it sounded like even the studio crew couldn’t hold it together, with faint signs of suppressed laughter leaking into the broadcast.
Despite the unexpected interruption, Secker powered through the segment like a pro — proving that even seasoned anchors aren’t immune to live TV chaos.
And while the Artemis II mission may be reaching for the stars, it was Secker’s hiccup battle that truly stole the spotlight.