BBC announces Santa isn't real, later apologises for fake news

Phew! Glad that's been cleared up.
 By 
Rachel Thompson
 on 

A BBC presenter sent shockwaves across the nation this morning when he announced that Father Christmas isn't real. Nick Robinson -- presenter of BBC Radio Four's Today show -- appeared to confirm that Santa Claus isn't real during a live radio broadcast at 7:52 A.M..

"It's like learning father Christmas isn't real for the first time, isn't it? I'm still in shock," Robinson said following a discussion about radio drama The Archers. His statement drew the ire of avid listeners, who promptly took to Twitter to berate Robinson. One person was quick to point out that children listen to the popular breakfast show.

While another dismissed his statement as fake news.

While others simply expressed their disbelief at the presenter's behaviour.

Robinson issued an apology soon after, and claimed that any claims that Santa isn't real are fake news.

Phew. Glad we got that straightened out.

Topics BBC

Rachel Thompson, sits wearing a dress with yellow florals and black background.
Rachel Thompson
Features Editor

Rachel Thompson is the Features Editor at Mashable. Rachel's second non-fiction book The Love Fix: Reclaiming Intimacy in a Disconnected World is out now, published by Penguin Random House in Jan. 2025. The Love Fix explores why dating feels so hard right now, why we experience difficult emotions in the realm of love, and how we can change our dating culture for the better.

A leading sex and dating writer in the UK, Rachel has written for GQ, The Guardian, The Sunday Times Style, The Telegraph, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Stylist, ELLE, The i Paper, Refinery29, and many more.

Rachel's first book Rough: How Violence Has Found Its Way Into the Bedroom And What We Can Do About It, a non-fiction investigation into sexual violence was published by Penguin Random House in 2021.

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