BBC forced to axe Boris Johnson interview after ‘red faced’ Laura Kuenssberg accidentally sends him her notes
LAURA Kuenssberg has been forced to abandon her interview with Boris Johnson today – after accidentally sending him her notes.
The BBC presenter fessed up to the “embarrassing and disappointing” blunder last night but said “honesty is the best policy”.
She had been due to grill the former Prime Minister, who is doing a series of rare sit-downs to mark the release of his memoir, Unleashed.
In a statement on X last night, Kuenssberg said: “While prepping to interview Boris Johnson tomorrow, by mistake I sent our briefing notes to him in a message meant for my team.
“That obviously means it’s not right for the interview to go ahead.
“It’s very frustrating, and there’s no point pretending it’s anything other than embarrassing and disappointing, as there are plenty of important questions to be asked.
“But red faces aside, honesty is the best policy. See you on Sunday.”
The former BBC Political Editor is a highly-regarded journalist who has presented the flagship Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg show for two years.
Her sit-down with Mr Johnson was highly anticipated given some of the startling revelations in his new book chronicling his political career including the three years as PM.
Extracts being serialised have included how he gave Prince Harry a “manly pep talk” against leaving the UK, and how he believes scientists were too quick to dismiss the Covid lab leak theory.
The former Tory leader is also doing interviews with Sky News and GB News ahead of publication.
Journalists almost never tell their interviewee the questions they intend to ask as a matter of principle.