BBC issue urgent EastEnders schedule change after Laura Kuenssberg’s Boris Johnson gaffe
Soap fans have been left without their usual EastEnders fix this Thursday as the BBC has cancelled the show for Laura Kuenssberg's interview with Boris Johnson.
The BBC have issued a major update for this Thursday’s schedule as EastEnders will be back for its usual slot after initially being cancelled.
Many BBC One viewers were looking forward to a new instalment of the long-running show this Thursday, October 3, 2024, but were disappointed when the broadcaster opted to scrap the show from its regular schedule to air an exchange between Laura Kuenssberg and former Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Upon the announcement, multiple fans jumped on social media, notably X, to share their frustrations as Thursday’s EastEnders episode was also missing from BBC iPlayer, replaced by an instalment due to air this Friday (October 4). For context, the soap airs at 7.30pm from Monday to Thursday.
However, a mishap behind the scenes has prompted regular soap viewers to wonder if EastEnders could be brought back to their Thursday evening schedule. This Wednesday (October 2), it was revealed that Laura Kuenssberg accidentally sent Boris Johnson her briefing notes, which were meant for her team. An error she deemed “embarrassing and disappointing” that meant it was “not right for the interview to go ahead.”
Laura Kuenssberg revealed a mishap had led to the cancellation of her interview with Boris Johnson
In a statement shared with The Daily Mirror, a spokesperson for the BBC has informed that “EastEnders will be back in its usual slot”, this Thursday evening at 7.30pm – but viewers will have to wait until Monday for an update on life in Walford as “Garden Rescue will then replace it tomorrow night.”
As Laura Kuenssberg’s grilling was abruptly cancelled, the BBC’s rival broadcasters are all gunning for their own sit-down with Boris Johnson, while on X, EastEnders fans are demanding for their favourite show to be given its usual slot back.
“It still says that the interview is on tomorrow at 7.30pm if you go to your TV’s OSP, but is Laura Kuenssberg’s cancelled her interview then surely they’ll put #Eastenders back on?”, one of them penned.
Laura Kuenssberg, a former BBC political editor tweeted on her own X account this Wednesday evening: “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.”
She then added: “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.”
Shortly after, the BBC News Press Team echoed: “Tomorrow’s interview with Boris Johnson won’t be going ahead. As Laura has explained, interview briefing notes meant for colleagues were inadvertently shared with him. This makes an interview tomorrow untenable. Under the circumstances, both the BBC and Mr Johnson’s team have agreed this is the best way forward.”
The TV chat was meant to be Boris Johnson’s first major interview about his time in office at No.10 since stepping down as Prime Minister. He was expected to face awkward questions about Partygate, his response to the Covid crisis, which was severely criticised throughout the nation and even beyond, and his handling of the Chris Pincher scandal.
Over in Walford, viewers have been keeping up with Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer) who is trying to expose Reiss Colwell (Jonny Freeman) for the murder of his wife Debbie in a bid to free Sonia Fowler from prison. Elsewhere, Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) and Junior Knight (Micah Balfour) continue their affair, unbeknownst to Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt), who is still recovering from the heartbreak his son Bobby left behind.
