BBC Breakfast host Dan Walker was visibly uncomfortable when snakes appeared on the morning programme’s sofa.
Hosting alongside Naga Munchetty, the presenter cowered away throughout the segment, teetering on the edge of the seat as the guests and their reptiles sat on the other side of his co-host.
At one point during the interview, Munchetty, who gladly handled the snakes, asked Walker: “Are you OK?”
It’s time! #snakeonthesofa pic.twitter.com/WkIOQZgIro
— BBC Breakfast (@BBCBreakfast) August 8, 2018
After the chat, she said: “Well done Dan, you alright? You can lean in a little bit now!”
Walker later took to Twitter, replying to a person who had taken a picture of his unamused expression, and wrote: “Not worried at all. I love snakes. Glad that is over.”
Not worried at all. I love snakes 😳😳😩😩🐍🐍Glad that is over https://t.co/QAYJQNYeed
— Dan Walker (@mrdanwalker) August 8, 2018
This face says it all @mrdanwalker, much safer presenting the football! pic.twitter.com/yFJ0CmSqdN
— Benjamin Hopkinson (@BenHop) August 8, 2018
The tweeter had written: “This face says it all @mrdanwalker, much safer presenting the football!”
Ahead of the segment, which saw two snake-lovers bring their pets on to talk about caring for them, Walker had tweeted that “Indiana Jones is my inspiration”, referring to the character’s famous fear of the slithery reptiles.
Walker had plenty of sympathy from viewers, while others found his clear distaste for the creatures amusing.
@BBCBreakfast I've never seen poor Dan look so uncomfortable, he is really fighting the urge to run away from the snakes!
— Cameron Grey (@Camanth) August 8, 2018
Loving @mrdanwalker body language here with these snakes on @BBCBreakfast if he leans over any further away from them, the cameraman are going to have to zoom out!!
— Digga Goodman (@Digga_G) August 8, 2018
@mrdanwalker looking slightly petrified. #snakes 🐍🤣 @BBCBreakfast
— Helen Spencer (@Helensp90936855) August 8, 2018
Dan on @BBCBreakfast is making me crease 😂🤣 Trying so hard not to run away from a snake 🐍
— Ryan Camsey ™ (@RyanCamsey) August 8, 2018
Oh Dan! I feel for you!! I get it, I don’t like snakes! One of my worse fears along with rats and drowning!🐍🐀💦@mrdanwalker @BBCBreakfast
— Michele Nelson (@michbobnels) August 8, 2018
@mrdanwalker bless you…could you be further from the snake!!! @BBCBreakfast pic.twitter.com/uvvVRdxDC3
— Nicci (@nicci_noc) August 8, 2018
Poor Dan. That was so uncomfortable to watch. Very scary when you have a phobia. Well done for not running out the studio @mrdanwalker 👏🏼 #Snakes #SnakePhobia pic.twitter.com/jWN58zgZjg
— Kelly Da Silva 🕊 (@thedovecoteorg) August 8, 2018
Munchetty also reminded Walker that he is faced with a “snake” every day.
She told him: “You know Naga means cobra, so you’re sat with a snake every day.”