BBC newsreader Jane Hill goes viral for bizarre ‘Socceroos’ pronunciation

BBC newsreader Jane Hill has become an unlikely social media star among Australian football fans after her curious pronunciation of “Socceroos” during a World Cup news bulletin went viral.

The veteran anchor was delivering an update on Australia’s World Cup exit, having been beaten by Egypt on penalties, when she pronounced the nickname of the Socceroos as “Sioh-key-roos” rather than the familiar “Soh-kerr-roos”.

According to the Daily Mail, Hill told viewers: “No goals in extra time took it to penalties, but then Socceroos missed two spot kicks, allowing Egypt’s Hossam Abdelmaguid to slot home the winning spot kick.”

Fans left baffled by the mispronunciation

Clips of the broadcast quickly spread among Australian football supporters, many of whom were amused rather than annoyed by the 57-year-old’s delivery.

Some viewers suggested Hill’s version of the word made it sound as though the Socceroos were a Greek footballer, with one fan quoted as saying she “said it like the team is a Greek player”.

Others speculated that the newsreader may have believed “Socceroos” was actually the surname of one of the Australian players involved in the shootout, rather than the long-standing nickname for the national men’s team.

One social media user simply wrote that Hill “pronounced that so crazy I didn’t even hear it” properly the first time round.

Australia’s tournament ends in penalty heartbreak

The moment came as the BBC reported on Australia’s World Cup elimination, after the Socceroos were unable to find a way through against Egypt in normal or extra time.

With the match finishing goalless, the tie went to a penalty shootout, in which the Socceroos missed twice, allowing Egypt’s Hossam Abdelmaguid to convert the decisive kick and send his side through.

The result brought Australia’s World Cup campaign to an end, but for many Aussie fans back home it was Hill’s pronunciation, rather than the shootout heartbreak, that dominated conversation online in the hours that followed.

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