An unidentified flag-bearer was faced with an incredibly high-pressure scenario on live TV on Thursday lunchtime – hide or flee?

Secretary-general of the Commonwealth, Patrica Scotland, was being interviewed on BBC News when it quickly became apparent her studio prep hadn’t quite been up to speed.

As the camera cut to her, a masked man carrying a flagpole was still shimmying it into position and giving it a quick rustle to provide an appropriate backdrop. 

It was at exactly this point that he realised he was on live TV.

Faced with either leaving or simply hiding behind the flagpole, the unidentified gent attempted to make a dignified exit before hitting his foot on something on the way out.

To top it off he then continued looking over his shoulder even after exiting the room.

At least the streaming incident didn’t have the potential for the diplomatic fallout that enveloped Wales last week. 

The Senedd, the country’s national assembly, has been holding its sessions via the video conferencing system Zoom as a result of coronavirus social distancing measures.

On Wednesday, health minister Vaughan Gething was being asked questions about the Welsh government’s response to the outbreak by Assembly Member Jenny Rathbone.

After he finished his contribution, Gething was heard off-camera talking about Rathbone, his Welsh Labour Party colleague.

He asked an unidentified person: “What the fuck is the matter with her?”

The presiding officer, Elin Jones, could then be heard saying: “I think Vaughan Gething needs to turn his microphone off. Vaughan Gething needs to turn his microphone off.”

A number of assembly members could be seen laughing.