Nigel Farage’s BBC Panorama grilling cancelled ultimately minute over ‘confusion’

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage’s BBC grilling has been delayed after a diary mix-up.

The BBC Panorama special with the former Ukip leader and the broadcaster Nick Robinson was originally scheduled for 10.40pm tonight. But the showdown will now be rescheduled for a later date.

Mr Farage is instead out campaigning today in northern seats. A source close to the Reform UK leader told The Mirror: “The first Nigel’s team heard of it was when it [the date] was press released by the BBC“. Just last week Mr Farage announced he will run to be a candidate for Reform UK and later launched his campaign in Clacton – despite standing unsuccessfully for Parliament seven times.

Last night Rishi Sunak appeared on the BBC Panorama and faced tough questions for “bunking off D-Day”. In a heated exchange with the BBC’s Nick Robinson, the PM apologised for not attending a commemoration on Omaha Beach in Normandy on Thursday.

Instead Foreign Secretary David Cameron was pictured alongside US President Joe Biden, France’s Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

The PM was told that many Brits believe it is the “basic duty” of the Prime Minister to have been there. Mr Robinson showed Mr Sunak the photo and demanded: “How do you feel when you look at that photo of D-Day at Omaha Beach?”

The PM replied: “Well, the last thing that I wanted to do was cause anyone any hurt or offence or upset, which is why I apologised unreservedly for the mistake that I made and I can only ask that I hope people can find it within their hearts to forgive me.” He then urged people to “look at my actions as Prime Minister to increase investment in our Armed Forces, to support our Armed Forces “.

Mr Robinson pressed again, telling Mr Sunak: “Do you understand that for quite a lot of people watching, I think, they simply think that the basic duty of the prime minister, the duty, was for you to be in that photograph and not David Cameron?” The awkward-looking PM replied: “Well that’s why I’ve apologised unreservedly for the mistake and I hope people can find it in their hearts to forgive me.”