A Channel Nine news presenter accidentally spat out a throat lozenge in the middle of live cross.

A red lolly fell out of Peter Overton’s mouth just minutes into the Nine News Sydney evening bulletin on Thursday night.

The journalist was introducing a segment by the political editor when he accidentally spat the sweet out of his mouth.

‘And Nine’s political editor Charles, oh excuse me, Charles Croucher joins me from Canberra. Charles, good evening to you,’ Overton said.

He played off the incident without a hiccup after his initial apology and appeared to catch the lolly in his hands as he continued reading the bulletin.

Earlier this year, Overton – who celebrated 35 years with Nine network on April 5 – was forced off air to undergo emergency surgery on his vocal chords after doctors discovered a polyp.

Overton revealed  that he noticed his voice was becoming ‘husky and raspy’ while on annual leave, which prompted a visit to the GP.

Newsreader Peter Overton was caught out when he accidentally spat out a red lolly live on air during Thursday’s nightly news

Peter Overton was caught out when a red lolly fell out of his mouth

The 58-year-old was referred to an ear nose and throat specialist, who quickly ordered surgery to remove the polyp.

‘They stick a camera up your nose and then down into your vocal cord, and then on a big screen, you see your vocal cords,’ Overton told News Corp.

‘And I saw this. It was like a big blister, a lump just hanging off the cord.

‘I must admit, it scared the living daylights out of me.’

Overton returned to television screens in early February.

Overton (pictured with wife Jessica Rowe) was recently forced off the air for more than a month after dangerous polyp on his vocal cords