They’ve had their pants down well and truly pulled down. A timeless classic
GB News have fallen for the oldest trick in the book after audience members called in under the names ‘Mike Oxlong’. Come on, lads, how earth have you fallen for that one?
All going splendidly at Andrew Neil’s joke far-right TV station. Following on from Michelle Dewberry falling for the classic “Mike Hunt” prank call, here’s former Brexit Party MEP Alexandra Phillips live on air, reading out a message from one Mike Oxlong. pic.twitter.com/UuPcrLAUxv
— Nicholas Pegg (@NicholasPegg) June 16, 2021
Unbelievably, they didn’t learn their lesson at all and no one else in the studio pick up on it and soon Mike Hunt manage to text in and make his first TV appearance since the 1970s. In fairness, Oxlong is the lesser-known of the Michaels but there is simply no defending this one – they’ve had a mare.
It’s a technological car crash. Either there’s a real Mike Hunt out there, or someone was having a laugh… editorial discretion should be advised… #GBNews pic.twitter.com/jhCPl6cwdO
— Ian Pinnell (@ianpinnell) June 15, 2021
The lady they cut to definitely cottoned on, surely?
They may silly pseudonyms but you cannot deny, it never gets old when someone, somehow, genuinely falls for it. As one fella on Twitter said, this is the sort of thing you’re warned about on your first day. Now, step right up, Mo Lester, Richard Rash and Peter File.
Even better than the premium content itself was social media‘s reaction to it as we all love a bit of immature, especially when it’s at the expense of a bunch of boomers whinging about ‘woke culture and saying they want to get to the real news without actually telling you any of it. Thank god for ticker tape, eh?
"Moes"
"Hey, i'm looking for Mike Hunt?" pic.twitter.com/LRKkM1xKMw— . (@0UTFORLUNCH) June 15, 2021
Both Mike Hunt and Mike Oxlong have been namechecked on GBNews. Hugh Janus and Amanda Hugankiss waiting in the wings
— Simon G (@chromered) June 15, 2021
https://twitter.com/TheVicCProject2/status/1405134700600074240?s=20
Unfortuantely, the team caught on (finally) and, to be fair, it was still pretty funny watching them acknowledge they’d been utterly “had” by simple school ground humour. Don’t try high road us lot, though you hated that kind of stuff?
This reaction to being tricked into reading out Hugh Janus is so much funnier than them merely reading out Hugh Janushttps://t.co/Jnl2brUel2
— James Felton (@JimMFelton) June 16, 2021
Anyway, hopefully, that isn’t the last we’ll hear from everyone’s favourite acquaintances they never met. The launch itself got more views than either BBC or Sky, no doubt through morbid curiosity and to see just how big a smouldering tire fire it would be. Here’s your answer.
So have it, folks! If they’re foolish enough to fall for it, not once but twice, then give ’em both barrels.
