ITV is set to air an exclusive interview with Boris Johnson after the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg had to cancel on the former prime minister.
The BBC presenter posted a tweet late on Wednesday evening to say that while prepping for the interview – originally set to air on Thursday night – she sent the former prime minister briefing notes “by mistake” in a message “meant for my team”.
She claimed this led to a “frustrating” decision to call off the interview as it was “not right” for it to go ahead.
ITV has now confirmed it will broadcast an interview with the former Tory leader on Friday.
It is scheduled to air at 7pm on ITV1 and will be conducted by News at Ten anchor, Tom Bradby.
The interview comes ahead of the release of Johnson’s forthcoming political memoir, Unleashed.
Sharing the news from ITV, journalist Kevin Schofield tweeted: "ITV gleefully fill the vacuum caused by the BBC cancelling their big Boris Johnson interview ..."
ITV gleefully fill the vacuum caused by the BBC cancelling their big Boris Johnson interview ... pic.twitter.com/CIkok9ceoP
— Kevin Schofield (@KevinASchofield) October 3, 2024
Meanwhile, TV critic Scott Bryan described it as "awkward", with Kuenssberg having to pull the interview last minute after her "embarassing and disappointing" blunder.
Plenty of broadcasters such as Cathy Newman of Channel 4 News and James O'Brien of LBC offered their services – somewhat sarcastically – after Kuenssberg's apparent error, but it's ITV which has secured the scoop.
The interview with Kuenssberg was set to be Johnson’s first serious grilling about his time in Downing Street since his departure.
As an experienced journalist, some have questioned why she couldn’t have come up with another set of questions Johnson had not seen, while others could not understand why another leading interviewer, such as Victoria Derbyshire, could not have talked to him in her place.
Former academic and author Dan Evans asked whether there would be further investigation into the cancellation of the interview.
He said on Twitter/X: "Can’t remember a journalist so openly, embarrassingly, enamoured with a politician in my lifetime. Wonder if there will be an investigation?”
The BBC said cancelling the interview was "the best way forward".
