The BBC has scrapped a much-anticipated interview with Boris Johnson after Laura Kuenssberg mistakenly sent her briefing notes to the former prime minister in advance.The BBC has cancelled its scheduled interview with former prime minister Boris Johnson after Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg host, Laura Kuenssberg, accidentally sent him her briefing notes ahead of time.
Kuenssberg admitted the mistake on social media, calling it “embarrassing and disappointing.”
The interview was set to air this weekend on BBC1 to coincide with the release of Boris Johnson’s memoir, Unleashed. However, the blunder means the interview will no longer go ahead. Kuenssberg took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to explain what happened.
“While prepping to interview Boris Johnson tomorrow, I mistakenly sent our briefing notes to him instead of my team,” she wrote. “This means it’s not appropriate for the interview to proceed. It’s very frustrating, and there’s no point pretending it’s anything other than embarrassing and disappointing.”
What Was the Interview About?
The interview was meant to coincide with the release of Johnson’s memoir, which promises to cover key moments from his political career, including Brexit and the pandemic. Political observers were eager to hear Johnson’s insights, but the error has now delayed this opportunity.
Kuenssberg, who has long been known for her high-profile political interviews, added, “Red faces aside, honesty is the best policy. See you on Sunday.”
Fallout From the Cancellation
While the interview’s cancellation is a setback for the BBC, it has raised questions about journalistic practices and the mishaps that can occur during the preparation phase. However, despite the gaffe, the BBC has confirmed that Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg will go ahead this weekend with a different guest.
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