Children, insects and other things that videobomb the TV news

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News telecasts are usually tightly controlled, slick affairs featuring news anchors, correspondents or experts who seem the very definition of imperturbability. Usually.

Sometimes though, the real world just can't help butting in to show that while what's on the news is important, there are a lot of other things out there that 1) have nothing to do with the news, 2) could not care less about what's on the news or 3) both of the above.

Here are five such occasions:

1. What's Daddy doing?

In the most recent such instance, two children videobombed their father, Professor Robert Kelly, while he was speaking to BBC News about the political crisis that has developed in South Korea on Friday (March 10).

Sauntering into her father's office in the middle of the broadcast, the little girl came up to see what her father was doing before deciding that the geopolitics of the Korean peninsula was not a terribly interesting topic.

She was followed shortly after by her younger sibling who, exhibiting advanced navigational and decision-making skills, entered the room in a baby walker unassisted.

Their mother then burst in to remove the little trespassers as Professor Kelly gamely continued with his analysis.

2. Don't mind me, just grabbing a bite while you talk

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Many people would have been annoyed with the fly struggling on the top right corner of the broadcast during BBC Scotland's morning news on Aug 13, 2014.

That is, until the considerate spider which put the fly there interrupted the "webcast" in order to move its prey to a less offensive location.

Or the spider could just have been hungry.

3. The weather's fine outside

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Ripple the dog had for some reason been brought in to be part of Canadian network Global Edmonton's weather forecast on Oct 15, 2014.

Showing remarkably good canine sense, Ripple decided he would much rather go and play in the fine weather outside than stay indoors looking at bunch of meaningless figures on a giant screen.

He also managed the impressive feat of chewing through his leash during his time on air.

4. A real bull-y

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Benny the Bull, mascot of National Basketball Association team Chicago Bulls, wanted to show the visiting Milwaukee Bucks who was boss ahead of the April 2014 home game in the Chicago United Center.

Since Benny wasn't a player and couldn't actually take to the court, he decided to show his support by being as disruptive as possible while the Bucks' sideline reporter was giving an update on the team's players.

Judging by the more than 1 million views on Youtube, his tactic of drawing attention away from the opposing team's players seems to have worked.

5. Second-hand smoke

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BBC's Middle East correspondent Quentin Sommerville got closer than he should have to a giant burning pile of heroin, opium and hashish that he was reporting on.

After inhaling large quantities of druggy air and getting high - from eight and a half tons of drugs, to be precise - Sommerville unsurprisingly struggled to complete his report as he was attacked by a fit of the giggles.

BONUS CONTENT: Trick or treat

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A visit to Woodgrove Avenue on Oct 31 every year transports one to an American suburb, with families doling out heaps of candy to eager trick-or-treaters.

ST's very own Bridget Tan went down to Woodgrove Avenue in October last year for the Halloween festivities, when she was "attacked" by a knife-wielding gentleman who may have taken issue with her Halloween costume.

See 1:23-1:35.

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