“There were two bits of radio history being made there, and one of them I’m sure you will recognise was Charlotte Green,” he joked.

“She was tipped over into hilarity by somebody whispering in her ear that the first bit sounded like a bee buzzing in a bottle.”

He later added: “We would just like to apologise to the family of Abby Mann. It wasn’t intended as any type of slight towards him.”

Charlotte, 49, admitted later: “I’m afraid I just lost it, I was completely ambushed by the giggles.

“I did a similar thing 10 years ago and to be honest I felt embarrassed knowing I have this reputation that I’m prone to getting the giggles.”

The BBC admitted it received dozens of complaints within minutes of the bulletin, but it also insisted that it had received a “flurry of requests” to play the clip again.

Listener Thomas Edwards, from Liverpool complained: “This shows how standards are falling at the BBC.

“I couldn’t believe my ears when Charlotte burst into laughter when mentioning Abby Mann’s death.

“I understand Charlotte had a giggle about a previous segment but she is an experienced newsreader. Surely she could have composed herself?”

But other listeners on the Radio 4 website had nothing but praise for the newsreader.

“My family were in stitches,” said one. “It proves real people are behind the scenes.” 

Today’s editor, Ceri Thomas, said “When Charlotte loses it, she really loses it.” 

Presenters Ed Stourton and James Naughtie later both denied responsibility for the unfortunate whisper which caused Ms Green such hilarity.

Mr Mann died at the age of 80 in Los Angeles on Tuesday.