Ashley Roberts' Live Radio Blunder: Confuses Dick Van Dyke with Deceased James Van Der Beek
In a live entertainment news update on Heart FM this Thursday, Ashley Roberts, aged 44, committed an epic on-air blunder by accidentally announcing that legendary actor Dick Van Dyke had passed away. This mistake occurred just weeks after Van Dyke celebrated his 100th birthday, adding to the awkwardness of the situation.
The Confusion Unfolds Live on Air
During the broadcast, Ashley shared what she described as 'sad news' with co-hosts Amanda Holden, 54, and Jamie Theakston, 55. She mistakenly said, 'Dawson's Creek's Dick Van Dyke has passed away,' when she meant to refer to James Van Der Beek, the star of Dawson's Creek, who died on Wednesday at the age of 48 following a battle with colon cancer.
Jamie Theakston quickly intervened to correct her, stating, 'Not Dick Van Dyke - come on. If you're going to do a sensitive moment, if you're going to do an obituary, you can't just say Dick Van Dyke.' Amanda Holden added, 'He's alive,' as Ashley giggled awkwardly at her own error.
Ashley's Apology and Clarification
After the correction, Ashley Roberts confirmed, 'Yes, [he's alive] - he's 100 years old! Oh my gosh, we spoke about this, I'm so sorry.' Jamie reinforced this by saying, 'Unbelievably, he's very much still alive.' The incident highlighted the challenges of live broadcasting and the importance of accuracy in reporting sensitive news.
Background on the Actors Involved
Dick Van Dyke, renowned for his role in Mary Poppins, celebrated his 100th birthday on December 13 with a quiet celebration at home in Malibu with his wife, Arlene Silver. In contrast, James Van Der Beek endured a public two-year battle with colorectal cancer. His loved ones confirmed his tragic passing in an emotional Instagram post on Wednesday, which read, 'Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning. He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace.'
The post continued, 'There is much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity and the sacredness of time. Those days will come. For now we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend.' He is survived by his wife, Kimberly, and their six children: daughters Olivia, 15, Annabel, 12, Emilia, nine, and Gwendolyn, seven, as well as sons Joshua, 13, and Jeremiah, four.
Support for the Van Der Beek Family
A GoFundMe page was launched to support Van Der Beek's family, with an initial goal of $500,000. The total amount raised has now reached $1.2 million. Kimberly Van Der Beek wrote on her Instagram Stories, 'My friends created this link to support me and our children during this time. With gratitude and a broken heart.' The page noted that donations would help cover essential living expenses, bills, and the children's education, with over $100,000 raised within an hour of the news breaking.
Tributes from Co-Stars and Friends
Busy Philipps, Van Der Beek's co-star from Dawson's Creek, shared a heartfelt tribute on Instagram, saying, 'My heart is deeply hurting for all of us today…every person who knew James and loved him, anyone who loved his work or had the pleasure of meeting him, all of his dear friends and community that surrounded him as he battled this illness, especially his parents and brother and sister.' She added, 'But I am profoundly heartbroken for his incredible wife Kimberly and their six magical children. James Van Der Beek was one in a billion and he will be forever missed.'
Ashley Roberts had been out the night before the broadcast, celebrating the BAFTA EE Rising Star award at La Môme London at the Berkeley hotel in London, which may have contributed to the mix-up during the live segment.
