Laura Kuenssberg 'embarrassed' by Boris Johnson email error
BBC host Laura Kuenssberg's planned interview with Boris Johnson has been called off after she mistakenly shared her briefing notes with the former prime minister.
Boris Johnson's interview with Laura Kuenssberg was scheduled to air on Thursday night on BBC One.
Nonetheless, the former political editor of the BBC stated that it was "not appropriate for the interview to proceed" after reviewing notes that were meant for her co-workers.
Kuenssberg characterized the situation as "shameful and disheartening," yet noted that "putting aside any awkwardness, being truthful is the most important approach."
According to the BBC, they reached an agreement with Johnson's team that pulling out of the interview was the most sensible option.
Johnson is currently engaging in media interviews to promote his new memoir, which has also been recently published in a newspaper in a serialized format.
Boris Johnson, seen in a photo from 2022, is currently undertaking interviews to publicize his memoir.
Presenters typically collaborate with a group of researchers to create a summary before an important interview.
The procedure typically involves collecting personal information about the individual, emphasizing any disputes, and developing proposed questions to ask.
In a statement shared on X late Wednesday, Kuenssberg clarified: "As I was getting ready to interview Boris Johnson the next day, I accidentally sent our briefing notes to him in a message that was intended for my team."
This clearly indicates that proceeding with the interview is not appropriate.
She went on to say, "It's really frustrating, and there's no use trying to sugarcoat it—it's simply embarrassing and disappointing. There are a lot of crucial questions that need to be addressed."
"Despite the embarrassment, being truthful is always the right way to go. I'll catch you on Sunday," she mentioned, referring to her usual Sunday morning political show, which will continue as scheduled.
In a statement, the BBC announced that the interview with Boris Johnson scheduled for Thursday has been canceled.
As Laura mentioned, the notes prepared for the team regarding the interview were accidentally sent to him. This situation makes it impossible to proceed with the interview scheduled for tomorrow.
Given the situation, both the BBC and Mr. Johnson's team have come to a consensus that this is the most effective path ahead.
During her show over the weekend, Kuenssberg mentioned that her interview with Johnson would mark his "first since leaving Downing Street" regarding his time in office.
The BBC announced that it has restored EastEnders to its regular time of 7:30 PM BST in Thursday's lineup, replacing the interview.
Johnson is scheduled to have another interview with BBC journalist Matt Chorley on 5 Live this Tuesday.
