BBC cancels tonight’s Have I Got News For You over booking of Change UK MP Heidi Allen
THE BBC has cancelled tonight’s episode of Have I Got News For You after booking a Change UK MP.
A post from the programme’s Twitter account suggested the show was pulled because of the possibility of upcoming elections to the European Parliament.
A BBC spokesperson confirmed: “The BBC has specific editorial guidelines that apply during election periods.
“Because of this it would be inappropriate to feature political party leaders on entertainment programmes during this short election period, which does not allow for equal representation to be achieved.
“So we will not broadcast the scheduled episode of HIGNFY featuring Heidi Allen, leader of Change UK.
“We will look to broadcast this episode at a later date.”
Heidi Allen MP resigned from the Conservative Party to join the newly formed pro-Remain Independent Group in February this year.
She was made the interim leader of the group, which is now known as Change UK, in March.
Several criticised the BBC’s decision after Nigel Farage appeared on Question Time last night.
Andy Whateley wrote: “Nigel Farage on Question Time for the 34th time on Thursday is ok but Heidi Allen on Have I Got News For You on Friday isn’t. Interesting decision.”
And another added: “Yet Farage hasn’t been off telly the past few days? Why is he allowed to talk about how much he wants Brexit but those opposed to it aren’t even allowed to be shown?”
But Farage’s appearance on the political show, hosted by Fiona Bruce, would not break bias guidelines as Change UK’s Anna Soubry MP and Labour’s Jonathan Reynolds MP were also panellists.
The tweet published by Have I Got News For You read: “Sorry everyone.
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“The BBC have pulled tonight’s edition of #HIGNFY – no, we didn’t book Danny Baker.
“We booked Heidi Allen, a member of a party no-one knows the name of (not even the people in it), because the Euro elections, which nobody wants, may or may not be happening. Sorry.”
The message referenced the controversy surrounding comedian Danny Baker, who was sacked from his job on BBC Radio 5 Live after posting a joke about Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s son featuring a picture of a chimp.
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