Fighting with umbrellas and staff picking their nose

Fighting with umbrellas and staff picking their nose: Viewers' outrage at antics of BBC News workers behind presenters during broadcast

• Glass wall of new Broadcasting House studio gives full view of newsroom
• Journalists seen having 'fights with umbrellas' during serious broadcasts
• BBC journalists also complain they are on show 24/7 like 'pandas in a zoo'

 
A sneaky dig up the left nostril when you're driving the car... the time you dump your towel post-shower and then realise the curtains aren't closed... we all know those 'private moments' that suddenly become horribly public.
Even so, it seems to be taking a while for BBC staff to realise just how much viewers can see going on in the newsroom through the glass wall at the back of their new 24-hour news studio.
As presenters Huw Edwards and Fiona Bruce intone the issues of the day, viewers' attention has been distracted by the journalists supposedly behind the scenes - as they chomp bananas, chat, yawn, stretch, pick their noses and even flirt and playfight in their open-plan office.
Scroll down for video

Break in news: Whatever anchor Huw Edwards is saying, it's entirely upstaged by the chap in the background enjoying a healthy, low-GI snack

Social media websites are filled with complaints about the antics of staff in the Corporation's multi-million pound 'fish bowl' newsroom in London's Broadcasting House, where it moved from its previous home in Television Centre in March.
One licence fee-payer Mike Jennings expressed despair on Twitter when he spotted employees mucking about as a serious news story was being broadcast.
He tweeted: 'Man talking gravely about floods on BBC News, Adults in background pretending their umbrellas are lightsabers.'
Another viewer, Mark Hutchings, was distracted by a public display of affection between staff while an interview was taking place in the foreground.

Awkward: Having a stretch or celebrating a goal from his team - whatever this employee is doing, it doesn't seem a great backdrop to a story about a plane crash

Digging deep: The glass wall behind Sophie Raworth may blur things a little, but it looks as if the woman behind her is giving her nose a nice clean

He tweeted: 'Surgeon on BBC News Channel from Southampton newsroom. In the background two journalists are hugging. I know it’s Friday but...'
A fellow viewer added: 'Wow BBC News your new newsroom background to the newsreader is WAY too visually distracting! We don’t need to see all your employees at once.'

BBC staff down tools to gawp at the Queen on royal visit

Busted: Viewers have been unimpressed by some of the distractions going on in the newsroom

Hair-raising: Journalist Alex Murray had a moment of shame thanks to the corporation's all-too-open-plan office

And the Beeb's employees have also been forced to cringe over the side-effects of their new workplace conditions.
Journalist Lee Thompson tweeted: 'My bald spot just been shining brightly in the background behind legendary Sir Harold Evans on BBC News Channel. The shame.'

 

Staff have previously labelled their new offices a 'bear pit' and complained that they feel like 'pandas in a zoo'.
Some even called for the glass to be opaque, predicting - correctly, as it turns out - that inappropriate behaviour would be caught on camera as tragic and harrowing stories were being discussed in the studio.

Am I boring you? Sophie Raworth's financial bulletin has an unwitting commentary provided by a staff member in the background

Working hard: BBC staff meet for a proper chinwag in between two presenters during an afternoon broadcast

Snack time: A woman reaches for the crisps in another instance of unwitting screenbombing at Broadcasting House

Broadcasting House, located in Portland Place and Langham Place in the centre of the capital, has became the sole headquarters of the BBC when its 50-year-old White City home closed.
The ultra-modern extension to the famous 1932 art-deco building was designed by architect Sir Richard MacCormac.
But MacCormac was fired by the BBC after a row over funding and another firm was brought in to complete the extension.
A BBC spokesman said: 'Our newsroom is designed to showcase the best of the BBC’s journalism and to enable teams from all platforms to work together more collaboratively and efficiently. Staff are aware that they should behave appropriately.