It goes without saying that to be a successful newsreader, you need to be knowledgeable, serious and possess the ability to speak clearly while keeping an exceptionally straight face.
However, on the rare occasion, newsreaders let the mask slip. They fumble their words, utter what they really think or sometimes completely forget the daunting fact that they're live on air to millions of people.
This week, respected BBC anchor Simon McCoy delivered the BREAKING NEWS that the Duchess of Cambridge's due date is next April.
Except it seemed like Simon didn't really think the news was worth its 'breaking' status so was rather lacklustre when he told viewers to "clear their diaries".
In honour of this truly entertaining moment, here's a round-up of all the other times newsreaders have broken cover.
1. When Clive Myrie called Tyson Fury a dickhead
In 2015, veteran newsreader Myrie was discussing the headlines - which, at the time, included the petition to exempt the boxer Tyson Fury from the Sports Personality of the year award shortlist over his offensive comments about gay people, women and abortion.
"You cannot be a dickhead and win sports personality of the year," Myrie weighed in pretty bluntly.
The BBC later apologised for anyone offended by his "language".
2. When this weather presenter was literally crying with laughter
Probs because Simon McCoy is hilarious tbh, but we don't actually know why Louise Lear could just not get through her weather forecast.
Louise spent the entire minute-long weather update wiping tears from her eyes as she spoke about rain in Scotland and dryer spells in southern England in August, 2016.
3. When a BBC presenter was caught brushing her hair
Back in 2015, Carol Walker thought she had a couple of minutes to make sure her locks were on top form when the BBC panned to her early.
Ever the professional, Carole put the brush down and delivered the business news very seriously ignoring the fact that her handbag was still on the table.
4. When the weatherman gave the newsreaders the finger
After some banter about the weather forecast's tendency to sometimes not be 100% accurate from good old Simon McCoy (we're beginning to see a theme here), weatherman Tomasz Schafernaker retaliated by giving him the finger.
While Tomasz assumed the camera wasn't on him, he was wrong. You can actually see the exact moment of realisation on his face.
5. When a Sky News presenter got really pissed off at Big Ben
In 2014, political correspondent Jon Craig was practising his piece-to-camera from Westminster when Big Ben started chiming. He was not pleased at the interruption.
The camera immediately returned to the studio where the news anchor apologised and clarified that it was a much earlier recording.
6. When the newsreader wasn't there
The BBC News theme tune rang in and viewers waited in anticipation to see who would be presenting the news. But, alas, where are they?
In 2014, Martine Croxall was stood on the other side of the room, not the chair behind the desk that the camera decided to pan in on.
Martine handled it like a pro, smoothly gliding back to the chair to deliver the rest of the broadcast, telling viewers to "pretend like you hadn't noticed".
7. When the newsreader couldn't settle on where he should stand
Another timing mishap happened recently when a seemingly new presenter couldn't quite figure out where he was supposed to be standing to read the news.
At the 2am broadcast, the shadow of Tom Donkin darted about left, right and centre instead of telling the people what they needed to know.
Eventually, after what felt like an eternal 10 seconds, Tom's bewildered face turned to the camera and the viewers still awake breathed a collective sigh of empathy.
8. When Kay Burley called a Scottish 'yes' campaigner a knob
In another classic case of a microphone being left on, Sky News' anchor Kay Burley was overheard saying a 'yes' campaigner "looks like a bit of a knob" while broadcasting from Scotland during the independence referendum.
9. When Simon McCoy held a stack of paper instead of an iPad
And finally, we cannot end this list, without returning to the great Simon McCoy - who inspired this article.
Back in 2013, the man himself apparently did not have an iPad to hand when talking about binge drinking. So instead, he did what anyone would do, and held a stack of paper.
