BBC News' Ben Thompson tickled viewers as he hid behind some paperwork during a story about a snake because he was so scared.
The journalist confessed to viewers that he was absolutely terrified of snakes and that he could struggle to tell the story about the longest Burmese python ever recorded being captured in Florida.
Looking nervous, he warned anyone else frightened of the reptiles to look away before a video of the 19 foot long snake was played.
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"I'm not quite sure how I can tell you this next story because I hate snakes," he admitted.
The TV star was clearly struggling to look at the clip himself because of his phobia, and grabbed a stack of papers to hold in front of his face.
"So I'm going to do it like this," he told viewers, before explaining how the snake had been caught in the US state.
He stayed hidden as the video rolled, before peeking out and asking producers: "Is it gone yet?"
Viewers rushed to support Ben after he spoke up about his fear.
"Awww poor guy," one tweeted.
"I feel for him. I have a phobia of lizards and am having a hard time watching S2 of The Afterparty because there's a lizard in nearly every scene.
"I can't imagine having to report on something that scared you! This was adorable, though."
"Why did it have to be snakes?!" asked someone else.
"This is how to read the news if you're scared of it – hide behind your note @BBCBenThompson tells the story of the Burmese python captured in Florida."
Someone else said they felt as if they could "give him a hug".
One quipped: "So if the people in the BBC whose job it is to report on vital snake stories are looking away, what are the surgeons and theatre nurses in the NHS doing about their fear of the sight of blood?"
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