This Morning’s guest Nick Ferrari has labelled Boris Johnson a figure of “absolute ridicule” after a clip of him being grilled by the AC-12 team in a hilarious Line of Duty parody went viral.
In the spoof video, the Prime Minister is seen sat across from DI Steve Arnott (Martin Compston), Superintendent Ted Hastings (Adrian Dunbar) and DI Kate Fleming (Vicky McClure) for an interrogation into the string of Downing Street parties during the pandemic.
ITV ’s This Morning played the clip, which has been viewed more than five millions times, live on air.
Host Phillip Schofield said of the clip: “It’s not a laughing matter, but it is very clever. There are parts of this that are very serious.
“At the same time that this was all happening, people were not allowed in hospital and lost relatives, people were dying.”
Guest commentator Nick Ferrari described Boris Johnson as the subject of “very smart” ridicule online.
He said: “Almost as bad as the fact that you went to what you thought was a work gathering, is the fact that your authority is being shredded.
“You are a subject of national ridicule and you’re still trying to effectively rule within Number 10.
“I would say that video is almost as damaging as the still photographs of him at the party, because it holds him up as a figure of absolute ridicule.”
The Line of Duty parody shows the anti-corruption police officers from the hit BBC drama showing Mr Johnson the leaked letter inviting Downing Street staff to “make the most of the lovely weather” with some “socially-distanced drinks” in the garden.
A clip of the PM is super-imposed into the interrogation room, showing him chuckling and mumbling as he says it's a matter for investigation by Sue Gray.
Phillip asked Nick: “Sue Gray is going to take this very seriously - so it’s not going to be a whitewash?”
He replied: “I have enormous sympathy for Sue Gray because she’s not a judge.
“She is tasked to find out all the data and then present it.
“It doesn’t fall to her to give a verdict so it will be intriguing to see how Boris Johnson tries to spin it, the Conservatives who are after him try to spin it and Labour try to spin it. I think next week you’ll be talking about it on this sofa.”
This Morning airs weekdays at 10am on ITV and ITV Hub.
