ABC host Tony Armstrong comes clean on X-rated on-air gaffe

ABC sports presenter Tony Armstrong has come clean on the hilarious TV gaffe that went viral on social media this week.

Tony Armstrong can see the funny side to his on-air blunder.

ABC sports presenter Tony Armstrong has come clean on the TV gaffe that went viral and flattered Australian Test captain Tim Paine this week.

On Monday, Cricket Australia confirmed Paine would undergo neck surgery to resolve a bulging disc that has restricted movement and caused major discomfort.

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Reporting the story on ABC News Breakfast this week, Armstrong left his co-hosts in hysterics after inadvertently saying “bulging d***” instead of “bulging disc”.

“Tim Paine is set to undergo neck surgery, but medical staff remain confident the veteran will be fit for the Ashes. Paine has a bulging d***,” Armstrong said before correcting himself.

“That’s a funny one.”

It wasn’t long before the slip of the tongue was brought to Paine’s attention and he hilariously backed Armstrong by posting on Twitter: “True story actually.”

Speaking on SEN Hobart’s Jack and Painey on Friday morning, Paine revealed to co-host Jack Riewoldt he was first made aware of the blooper moments before going under the knife.

“My phone was going berserk,” he said. “I thought, ‘Christ, what’s happened here?’

“He (Armstrong) has copped a fair whack for it the past few days, the poor fella.

“It’s an easy slip of the tongue as well.”

The radio show then phoned up an embarrassed Armstrong, who sheepishly told Paine: “You’re welcome. We believe in the truth at the ABC, mate.”

The Australian wicketkeeper quickly responded: “There‘s been a lot of fake news being reported the last few years, so it’s great to hear a bit of honesty.”

Armstrong continued: “It was during the 6.20am slot that I do, and the lights were on, but no one was home. I’m due a holiday.

“It’s come out and I’ve gone, ‘Oh goodness, what’s going here?’

“I’ve just got to finish my autocue read and try to put out this fire that I’ve just started.

“It just got even more legs and away it went.

“Good little bit of fun, wasn’t it?

“Tim, it can only possibly be good for your image. The only thing that’s happened to me is I’ve exposed myself to the world as dumb as what I actually pretend to be.”

It could have happened to anyone. Photo: ABC.

Australia cricket team captain Tim Paine should be right for the Ashes. Photo by Patrick Hamilton/AFP

Paine remains adamant that he will be ready for the Ashes after Tuesday’s successful surgery, which left him feeling “pretty sore”. Surgeons had to cut a hole in the 36-year-old’s throat to fix the bulging disc high up his spine, close to his neck.

Paine said the surgeon told him it was the right call to have the surgery, not just to be fit for the Ashes but for his long-term health.

“I had the bugling disc pressing on my spine, I was having some pain down the left side of my body,” he told SEN.

“It was that touch-and-go stage, where I don’t get it done and take the risk I’ll be right for the Ashes or get it done now and make sure I am.

“I’m pretty happy with the decision. After the surgeon had a look in there, he said it was a good decision to get it done.”

Paine said surgeons “cut a big hole in my throat” before replacing the C6 and C7 discs high up in the neck.

“They move my voice box to the side and go in that way. It’s less invasive, safer,” he said.

“They put the new disc in, stitched them up and away we go. I feel like my range is already better and I just have to not make sure the cut heals and give the disc time to take to my spine over the next month or so, then get moving.

“The most important thing in the first two week is the healing itself. I need it to take with the bone that is there.

“It’s a slow process, I’ll be walking over the next couple of weeks, doing a lot of little neck physio movements. It’s a see how we go from there.”

With Andrew Bucklow & Russell Gould, NCA NewsWire

Originally published as ABC host Tony Armstrong comes clean on X-rated on-air gaffe