BBC viewers are left bemused as First Dates maître d' Fred Sirieix is drafted in as a commentator...
BBC viewers were confused on Sunday when the broadcaster chose First Dates host Fred Sirieix to commentate on the closing ceremony of the Paris Olympics.
The Olympics came to an end following 329 competitions in 32 different sports. The BBC broadcast of the Paris event was led by Hazel Irvine, Andrew Cotter, Laura Kenny, and Chris Hoy.
Clare Balding was also included in the broadcast, guiding viewers through a recap of the events from the past 16 days of competition.
Fred, age 52, became well-known in 2013 when he appeared on a dating show on Channel 4. Since then, he has been on cooking shows with Gordon Ramsay and Gino D'Acampo, as well as on I'm A Celebrity.
People were happy to see him on the shows, but Olympic viewers were not happy when the popular French guest joined Hazel, Andrew, and Claire on the pundit panel on Sunday.
BBC viewers were confused on Sunday when they saw First Dates host Fred Sirieix being brought in as a commentator for the Paris Olympics closing ceremony.
The Olympics just finished after having 329 competitions in 32 sports. The BBC covered the event with Hazel Irvine, Andrew Cotter, Laura Kenny, and Chris Hoy as the main hosts. (Image: Tom Cruise)
The fans of the Olympics were not happy when the popular French athlete joined the group of experts. Shown in the photo are Hazel (second from the right), Andrew (far right), and Clare (far left).
Going on X, previously known as Twitter, people were very direct in expressing their doubts about the BBC's choices.
'What is the reason for Fred Sirieix's presence?'
Rewritten: 'Fred Sirieix achieved third place in the Maitre D' competition. He accidentally spilled a tray of drinks just 10 meters from the end of the race.'
Laura Kenny and Chris Hoy were attentive as they heard Fred Sirieix discuss the keys to success at the Olympic Games.
Olympic cyclists Laura and Chris have each achieved impressive gold medal counts, with Laura earning four gold medals and Chris winning six.
Readers commented: 'Is Fred Sirieix really the most suitable French man they could have chosen for the job of pub receptionist?'
Can someone explain why Fred Sirieix is commenting at the Olympics just because his daughter is competing and he is French? Seems like a strange choice by @BBCSport.
Fred's daughter, Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix, represents Great Britain in diving as part of the national team.
TV personality Fred gained popularity in 2013 on a dating show on Channel 4. He has also been featured on cooking shows alongside Gordon Ramsay and Gino D'Acampo, as well as participating in the reality show I'm A Celebrity.
Viewers were happy to see him on the programs, but fans of the Olympics were angry on Sunday.
Fans were saying that the BBC is swapping out all the experts except for Fred Sirieix.
It's great to see the BBC bringing in some top athletes for the closing ceremony. These are people who have competed in the Olympics and done really well, so they know what they're talking about. Laura Kenny, who has won 5 Olympic medals, Sir Chris Hoy, who has won 7 Olympic medals, and Fred Sirieix are all going to be there. [thumbs up emoji]
The BBC Olympic closing ceremony coverage has Fred Sirieix as one of the hosts. His expertise in etiquette will be useful when helping the other presenters find their seats during dinner.
A single viewer went as far as creating a poll that straight up asked: 'What's the reason behind Fred Sirieix commentating on the BBC's Closing Ceremony coverage?'
The choices were: Choosing Clare B as the waiter. Because she speaks French. I don't know. (shrugging)
However, not everyone was upset to see Fred, as one kind fan commented: 'Fred Sirieix is such a nice person. Even though he's not a sports commentator, I really enjoyed the segment about Paris. I have a special love for Paris and it really touched me.'
At the end of the event, the closing ceremony featured Tom Cruise, a famous American actor and stunt performer at the age of 62, showcasing an impressive stunt. Additionally, 22-year-old Billie Eilish took the stage to deliver a performance through her singing.
Tom executed a bold stunt reminiscent of the Mission Impossible movies at the Stade de France to symbolize the passing of the Olympic baton from France to LA for the 2028 games.
In the meantime, Billie performed with the Red Hot Chilli Peppers on stage in LA.
The shows they put on, seen by millions, were broadcast in real-time directly to the French arena.
The performers for Sunday, such as Snoop Dogg, were selected because of their ties to the popular western city.
When talking on X, previously known as Twitter, viewers were very straightforward in questioning the BBC's choices. One fan even created a poll to express their opinion.
Some people were actually happy to see Fred, and one kind fan wrote a message of gratitude.
In the finale, we watched American action star and stunt performer Tom Cruise, who is 62 years old, do a breathtaking stunt. We also saw a performance by Billie Eilish, who is 22 years old.
The 62-year-old actor is set to do a bold stunt at the Stade de France, similar to Mission Impossible, to celebrate the passing of the Olympic baton from France to LA for the 2028 games.
The 52-year-old rapper has been a standout performer at the Olympics this year and has been seen at different events.
He brought in the divisive breakdancing contest this year and was also seen getting dressed up and having a good time at the dressage and basketball events.
To connect the games in France with the future host country, all of the performers have strong ties to Los Angeles.
Billie, a famous singer known around the world, is 22 years old and was born in Los Angeles. She has shared before how growing up in LA has influenced her and her music. She has described her latest album, Happier Than Ever, as a message of love and appreciation for the city.
Snoop Dogg comes from Long Beach and is a well-known rapper and producer from the West Coast. The Red Hot Chili Peppers formed in Los Angeles in the 1980s.
The details of the LA shows on Sunday have not been released as security measures have been heightened after three Taylor Swift concerts in Austria were called off due to a bomb threat.
Actor Tom Cruise, known for his action-packed roles in Hollywood, is set to create an exciting conclusion to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The games have been celebrated as a triumph, despite a wet and chaotic beginning.
The actor from Mission: Impossible will rappel into the Stade de France stadium to retrieve the Olympic flag with five rings and bring it to Los Angeles, where the 2028 Games will be held.
The actor from Rain Man will be performing alongside the popular bands Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Billie Eilish. They were selected to perform because of their ties to the well-known city on the West Coast.
Snoop Dogg, aged 52, has been a well-known figure at this year's Games and will also be taking the stage to perform. This is because he has strong ties to Los Angeles, as he was born and raised in Long Beach.
The French indie group Phoenix and the electronic duo Air will be performing, but the popular house duo Daft Punk will not be able to make it to the show, despite many fans in France hoping for their appearance.
Cruise, who is 62 years old, is just one of the many American celebrities who have flown to Paris to attend the events.
Rapper Snoop Dogg has been attending the Games regularly, while Hollywood stars Eva Mendes, Ryan Gosling, Sharon Stone, and Nicole Kidman have been seen enjoying the events.
Legendary rock star Sir Mick Jagger is currently in the city and has been seen cheering on TeamGB athletes as they compete on the track alongside his partner Melanie Hamrick and their eight-year-old son Deveraux.
Alex Yee, the triathlon champion, and Bryony Page, the trampolinist, were selected to be the flag-bearers for Team GB at the closing parade in Paris.
The event will showcase performances by over 100 dancers and circus performers, with the ceremony lasting two and a half hours.
In addition to the one-of-a-kind artistic portion, the concluding event will also feature more classic components, such as: the procession of athletes, the appreciation of the 45,000 volunteers, and the award presentation for the women's marathon.
French star swimmer Leon Marchand, who clinched five medals in the water, with four of them being gold, is predicted to receive a standing ovation.
The show titled 'Records', as described by artistic director Thomas Jolly, guarantees to transport the viewers on a surreal journey through time, infused with science-fiction elements.
This section will start with the origins of the Olympic Games and then explore a future where the Olympics no longer exist and need to be recreated in a dystopian setting.
The Olympic flame will be put out in Tuileries, where the cauldron has been showcased and visited by many fans.
The rapper has been a standout performer at the Olympics this year, showcasing the controversial break dancing competition and taking in the dressage event.
The announcement that the Olympic Games have ended will be made by Thomas Bach, who is the President of the International Olympic Committee.
The Olympic flag will be handed from Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo to Karen Bass, the mayor of Los Angeles.
No matter what, the Paris 2024 planners will want to make sure they don't have a situation like the one at the opening ceremony. Some Christians and conservatives were upset by the presence of drag queens in a scene that they believed made fun of the Last Supper from the Bible.
But it's unlikely that the heavy rainstorm that ruined several performances at the fancy opening ceremony will happen again tonight.
Additionally, there are no anticipated disruptions to France's train system due to sabotage, which has left many travelers stranded. This is due to increased security measures in place throughout the capital.
The Paris 2024 Paralympic games will kick off on 15 August with the opening ceremony, and will come to a close on 27 August with the final event.
The Los Angeles Olympics will kick off on July 14, 2028, and will wrap up with the closing ceremony on July 30. This will mark the third time that LA has hosted the prestigious global sports event.
The large city in the US, where around 7.8 million cars are present, has promised to significantly reduce car usage during the 2028 Olympic Games.
There will be several new sports to watch, including T20 cricket, lacrosse, baseball, squash, and flag football, which is also known as non-contact gridiron.
Surfing, skateboarding, and sport climbing were extremely popular at the French Games and are expected to continue to thrive.
However, breakdancing, which first appeared at Paris 2024 and was heavily ridiculed, will not be included.
Earlier today the Eiffel Tower had to be cleared out because a man was spotted climbing the famous Paris landmark just a few hours before it was supposed to close for the day.
The man without a shirt was seen climbing the 1,083 foot (330m) structure. He was spotted near the Olympic rings on the second part of the monument, right above the first observation deck.
Over 30,000 police officers are patrolling Paris and surrounding areas to ensure security during the remaining Olympic events and the closing ceremony on Sunday.
This information is being shared as security officials remain vigilant following the successful prevention of a terrorist plot during the pop star's performances in Vienna for her Eras Tour.
Actions have been taken in LA to address possible risks from the air, land, and sea as the city prepares to be in the spotlight of the global community.
The event planners are aiming for a more successful closing ceremony compared to the controversial opening ceremony, which faced criticism from the Christian community for ridiculing their beliefs.
The performance received some negative feedback for a particular scene at a dinner party where an actor portraying the Greek god Dionysus stood out on a table surrounded by drag queens, which was seen as reminiscent of Leonardo da Vinci's famous painting, The Last Supper.
Several religious organizations spoke out against the event, including the French branch of the Catholic Church, which criticized it for its portrayal of disrespectful and mocking depictions of Christianity.
