Couple's huge row accidentally broadcast live on Channel 4 News segment

A couple's argument was broadcast live to the nation on Channel 4 News after they walked into the background of an interview.

Daily Mail columnist Andrew Pierce was speaking to news anchor Cathy Newman about the decision by Virgin Trains to stop selling the paper on its West Coast trains.

The story sparked a debate about censorship and has been incorrectly labelled a "ban" by some right-wing commentators, such as Nigel Farage, who tweeted:

We are heading in a worrying direction. Banning things because you don’t like them solves nothing.

Mr Farage called for a burka ban in 2010 while the leader of Ukip's MEPs in Brussels. The public remain free to read a Daily Mail on any Virgin train.

A spokesperson for Virgin told the BBC of the decision:

There's been considerable concern raised by colleagues about the Mail's editorial position on issues such as immigration, LGBT rights and unemployment.

We've decided that this paper is not compatible with the VT brand and our beliefs.

We will continue to offer The Times to customers, but we won't be stocking the Daily Mail for sale or as a giveaway.

This won't suit all of our customers or all of our people - it's certain to draw some criticism. But we've listened to many colleagues over the last few months, and we feel that this is the right move to take.

A Daily Mail spokesperson retorted:

It is equally rich that Virgin chose to launch this attack on free speech in the Aslef trade union journal.

For the record, Virgin used to sell only 70 Daily Mails a day. They informed us last November that to save space, they were restricting sales to just three newspapers: the Mirror, FT and Times.

They gave no other reason, but it may be no coincidence that all those titles, like Virgin owner Sir Richard Branson, are pro-Remain.

While covering the story, Channel 4 held a debate between Andrew Pierce of the Mail and Dawn Butler of the Guardian.

However, Pierce was interrupted by a blazing row between a couple in the background of the interview, which took place outside the Mail's offices in Kensington, London.

He was interrupted as the couple screamed "f*** you" at each other several times after the man shouted something about "my sister".

Mr Pierce said:

I'm terribly sorry about the distraction behind - can't really help that one.

Moderator Cathy Newman then interjected:

There seems to be some sort of fight going on behind, so let me just go back to Dawn Foster.

Twitter loved the clip, however:

You can watch the full debate in the video below:

HT Mirror

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