Boris Johnson Photo: Henry Nicholls / Reuters
The BBC has canceled a prime-time interview with former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson following an embarrassing mishap. Laura Kuenssberg, the host scheduled to interview Johnson, accidentally sent her show notes to him, The Guardian reports.
Kuenssberg explained that the notes were mistakenly sent to Johnson instead of her team. She described the blunder as “awkward and frustrating,” adding that the interview couldn’t proceed under such circumstances.
The interview, which was set to air on BBC One at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, had been promoted as Johnson’s first major interview since stepping down as Prime Minister in the summer of 2022. Topics on the agenda included Brexit, his government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the “Partygate” scandal, which ultimately led to his political downfall and resignation from Parliament.
“It’s incredibly disappointing, and there’s no use pretending it’s anything other than awkward and frustrating,” Kuenssberg said. “But honesty is the best policy.”
The interview was also part of the media lead-up to the release of Johnson’s memoir, Unleashed, in which he reflects on his time in office. One leaked excerpt reveals that in March 2021, Johnson ordered military leaders to draft a plan for a raid on a Dutch factory to secure 5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine.
This high-profile interview would have been an important moment for Johnson as he prepares for the publication of his memoirs.
