Boat Race host Clare Balding was forced into an apology live on air shortly after Oxford Women won their first Boat Race in nine years. Channel 4 reporter Jamie Laing was conducting immediate interviews with the winning team when some foul language was caught on the broadcast.

Cox Louis Corrigan shouted: “What a f****** awesome day” as Lang quickly apologised to those watching from home, with Balding quickly echoing his sentiments by saying sorry for the bad language. Oxford’s stroke and captain Heidi Long then struggled to get any words out and admitted: “I’m quite overwhelmed.”

Oxford claimed their first win in the Women’s Boat Race since 2016 with a dominant victory over Cambridge after a blistering start.

In difficult conditions, Oxford maintained their advantage to win by 9.4 seconds and celebrate their 31st overall success.

“That was so incredible,” Pete Reed said on Channel 4 commentary. “They’re making the memories of a lifetime. I am so proud of them and hopefully that’s a change of momentum for the Dark Blues.”

Four years ago, Beeb microphones picked up Cambridge Women’s cox Jasper Parish swearing during the race.

Balding did not offer an apology on that occasion, and neither did commentator Andrew Cotter, but a BBC spokesman later said: “Due to the nature of live sport broadcasts, unfortunately bad language can sometimes be overheard. We apologise for any offence caused.”

In 2013, Ofcom resolved a complaints case against the BBC over offensive language broadcast during the race that year.

Winning Oxford cox Oskar Zorilla was heard swearing multiple times and the media watchdog said that use of the expletive was “clearly inappropriate” on a Sunday afternoon when children could be watching.

From the following year, the BBC said that it would appoint a dedicated staff member responsible to monitor the cox microphone feeds.

Ofcom received nine complaints about the incident that year.