Points West anchor Liz Beacon, 43, was drafted in at the last minute to present the evening news and rushed home to grab her new and unworn Zara outfit.
BBC
But minutes before going live the zipper 'popped', leaving the black fitted dress gaping all down her back.
Without time to change, the quick-thinking crew pulled it together using big metal bulldog clips and black gaffer tape - and took a photo to show Liz.
Liz Beacon / SWNS
Viewers had no idea of the outfit malfunction when they tuned in to watch the live broadcast just 20 minutes later.
Liz, from Bristol, England said:
"I hadn't worn the dress before and it was a bit sticky when I did the zip up, but I just thought that was because the dress is quite a tight style anyway. Never in a million years did I imagine it would burst open half an hour later!"
The dress, bought at Cabot Circus shopping center in Bristol, was a birthday gift from her mother in December.
Liz was looking forward to debuting it on the program because it was different to her usual presenting outfits.
She managed to stay composed for the entire 30 minute program with her dress haphazardly taped and clipped closed behind her.
Liz Beacon / SWNS
Liz said:
"We go live on air at 6:30pm and at about 6:10pm I felt this pop and thought, I don't believe this, I think the zip has just gone. I asked the director - another Liz - to come and take a look, and when she saw it, she gasped and said 'Quick, get me some clips and some gaffer tape.'"
"I had no other options. There is a dressing room here but I don't store any dresses in there - that will change from now on! There were three people helping me in the end, with fellow presenter David Garmston next to me trying to keep me calm. It was all hands to the pump - a director, a fellow presenter and a cameraman, all trying to help me in the 20 minutes we had before going live."
BBC
"I was still fiddling with it, reaching behind me, trying to make sure the tape was stuck down, as we went on air. I couldn't relax the entire program, which is most unlike me! I kept feeling it move, and was completely paranoid that it would ping open again."
She has since spoken to Zara regarding the incident and is liaising with their customer services with the hope of organizing a replacement.