BBC forced to cancel Boris Johnson interview after ‘embarrassing’ mistake
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The BBC has called off an interview with Boris Johnson because presenter Laura Kuenssberg mistakenly shared her briefing notes with the former prime minister.
Ms. Kuenssberg, the host of the BBC's main Sunday political interview program, stated that she shared the notes with Mr. Johnson in a message that was intended for her team.
The political editor of the BBC from 2015 to 2022 described the situation as "embarrassing and frustrating," noting that the mistake made it inappropriate for the interview to continue.
On X, she stated: "As I was getting ready to interview Boris Johnson tomorrow, I accidentally sent him our briefing notes that were intended for my team. Clearly, this makes it inappropriate to proceed with the interview."
“It’s quite frustrating, and let's not kid ourselves—this situation is both embarrassing and disheartening, leaving many critical questions unanswered. However, despite the awkwardness, being truthful is the key approach. Looking forward to seeing you on Sunday.”
Mr. Johnson, who served as prime minister from 2019 to 2022, is set to release his new memoir, titled Unleashed, next week.
Ms. Kuenssberg earlier examined his administration in a Panorama feature titled "Partygate: Inside the Storm" and reflected on the recent period of Conservative leadership in a three-part BBC Two series called "Laura Kuenssberg: State of Chaos."
A representative from the BBC stated, “The interview with Boris Johnson scheduled for tomorrow has been canceled. As Laura mentioned, briefing notes intended for our team were accidentally sent to him.”
"This means that having an interview tomorrow is no longer possible. Given the situation, both the BBC and Mr. Johnson's team have decided that this is the most appropriate course of action."
Preview excerpts from Mr. Johnson's upcoming book, which is scheduled to come out on October 10, have already been released. In these snippets, the former politician talks about topics such as Covid, the Queen, and his fellow Conservative party members in Parliament.
Questioning the usefulness of Covid lockdowns, he expresses that he is now "no longer convinced" of their necessity. Mr. Johnson also shares that as Prime Minister, he thought about sending troops into the Netherlands to obtain five million AstraZeneca vaccines that he claims the EU had "taken."
The ex-prime minister claims that his successor, Rishi Sunak, committed acts that he views as "worse than a crime" by bringing an end to his political career. He draws a parallel between himself and Julius Caesar, likening Mr. Sunak to Brutus, the infamous figure who assassinated the Roman leader.
Ms. Kuenssberg had earlier examined his administration in the Panorama special titled “Partygate: Inside the Storm” and reflected on the recent years of Conservative rule in a three-part series for BBC Two, called “Laura Kuenssberg: State of Chaos.”
The BBC hasn't confirmed whether they will reschedule their interview with Mr. Johnson, but it's anticipated that he will make appearances on various other platforms during the release of his book.
