Classic? Not quite. One-quarter of a century before Deborsu, another reporter pulled exactly the same stunt. That clip has just been made available again for all to see on VRT television’s new website EuScreen

In the segment from the programme Terloops, reporter Wilfried Bertels goes in search of that elusive creature: a Belgian who knows their own national anthem. His quest in the 14-minute piece takes him to the national parade on 21 July, where he corners Jos Chabert, minister for institutional reform, who says: “Some other time; I have a parade to go to.” Moments later he catches prime minister Mark Eyskens. Can he sing the national anthem? “Yes,” replies Eyskens, “but it’s too wet.” (It is indeed pouring with rain.)

The hundreds of archive clips provided by the VRT were chosen according to criteria given by the EuScreen project, including news items, sports, culture, documentary, special events and national celebrations. Among the items on offer: a 2010 commemoration of the wreck of the Herald of Free Enterprise off the coast of Zeebrugge; evocations of Fathers' Day from 1956 and Mothers' Day from 1982; a report from Pukkelpop in 2002 where the festival has been disrupted by “serious stormy weather”.

Some things, like reporters pranking prime ministers, never change.

www.euscreen.eu