Charlotte Green - Corpse

Episode 393,   Mar 27, 2012, 08:42 PM

Says it all. Charlotte Green delivering the latest news on The Today Programme on BBC Radio 4. After an old recording, hailed as a historic find, rather tickled her, Charlotte felt the need to laugh. When that happens, as every broadcaster knows, the more you try to be serious, the worse it is. Then you think about why you are laughing, and round and round it goes. Those around you silently (almost) creasing up is fine, but they just make recovery even less likely.

If one were to study this phenomenon, known in radio as 'corpsing', this would be the best example and would warrant a whole chapter in the thesis. Not least as this talented, accomplished, perfect newsreader begins to shriek like a 14 year old on a midnight feast at Mallory Towers.