BBC Breakfast reporter Fiona Lamdin joined a group of primary school children in Malmesbury, Wiltshire, to watch the England vs. Mexico World Cup match live, with neither the children nor the reporter knowing the final score. The result: a 3-2 victory for England, secured by a Harry Kane penalty in the 60th minute, sending the youngsters into ecstatic celebrations.
Joyful Reactions Caught on Live TV
As the final whistle blew, the children, adorned in red and white face paint, erupted into screams, jumping and hugging each other. Lamdin, visibly shocked, shouted: 'I literally can’t believe it!' She then interviewed students, one of whom had been avoiding his father all morning to prevent spoilers. 'He would have literally run down the stairs and gone: “Yeah!!!”' the boy said. Lamdin praised the father, calling him 'a good dad' for keeping the secret. Another girl described the feeling as 'absolutely amazing.'
Social Media Praise for Wholesome Segment
Viewers on X (formerly Twitter) were moved by the segment. Marguerite Celestine Rothwell wrote: 'Absolutely amazing indeed! You can feel the energy through the screen. Moments like this are why we love the beautiful game.' Will commented: 'Love this. Those children will have memories for life now.' The BBC Breakfast post showing the moment Harry Kane’s penalty was taken garnered similar reactions, with Jameson calling it 'proper wholesome' and Timothy Radford noting it was 'the highlight of a BBC journalist’s career.'
Behind the Scenes: Avoiding Spoilers
The school in Wiltshire had 400 children watching the match, all unaware of the result. Lamdin’s live reporting included a segment where a young boy recounted Jude Bellingham’s first goal: 'I was over there getting toast, but as soon as he scored his first goal you could see everyone jumping up and down, it was amazing.' After Kane’s penalty, the same boy was seen pumping his fists in the air, celebrating England’s third goal.
Impact and Memorable Moments
The segment resonated deeply with audiences, recalling nostalgic memories of past World Cup experiences. One user referenced England’s 2002 defeat to Brazil, saying: 'Bit better than seeing Seaman let a looping cross in over his head!' The video has since gone viral, highlighting the power of live sports to create lasting memories. BBC Breakfast returns to BBC One at 6am tomorrow.
