Former Big Brother star Kate Lawler was left red faced as her dog Shirley began “humping” her during her competition segment on ITV’s This Morning

Kate Lawler was caught off guard during her live broadcast on the ITV daytime show This Morning when she was supposed to update the viewers with competition details.

While hosts Sian Welby and Craig Doyle were settled on the studio’s famed blue sofa this Monday, December 23, they welcomed the Big Brother icon, who was at a beach in Southbourne, Dorset.

Accompanying Kate was her lovely dog Shirley, but despite the picturesque setting, the segment spiralled into disarray as the dog began an impromptu “humping” display on camera.

During her reading of the competition information, Shirley got overly excited, prompting the flustered host to exclaim: “Shirley, I said no humping on telly. Thanks for embarrassing me on TV.”

Sian and Craig couldn’t contain their laughter as the live feed returned to them in the ITV studio, and they struggled to regain composure. Craig even had to apologise to the next guests, a support group for lonely women, for Shirley’s unruly escapade before moving forward with the show.

Kate Lawler’s dog started humping her live on air (Image: ITV)

This unexpected occurrence has since been hailed by some fans as the “best thing I’ve seen”, igniting lively conversations on social media about Kate and her dog’s memorable appearance.

One enthusiastic viewer expressed: “Shirley humping is the best thing I’ve seen.”, reports the Daily Star.

Another chimed in: “Kate and Shirley. Craig getting the giggles. Perfect.” Comments continued to flood in, with one individual saying: “Omg! ! ! Shirley the dog I’ve literally just cried laughing.”

Craig Doyle and Sian Welby couldn’t control their laughter (Image: ITV)

Another declared: “Humping Shirley, the little terrier with the #Christmas sweater on the beach! ! ! THANK GOD SHE NEVER HAD A BIKINI ON! ! ! ! ! ! HAH HAH HAH HAHA.” Sian and Craig filled in for regular hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard, who are set to return for a special Christmas Day episode of This Morning.

The duo will team up with Dermot O’Leary and Alison Hammond for a pre-recorded show, during which they re-enact the iconic scene from the 2003 festive favourite, Love Actually.

The scene, where Andrew Lincoln’s character Mark confesses his love for Keira Knightley’s Juliet, has become one of the most replicated and recognisable moments in film history.