But BBC boss denies comic's Kuenssberg appearance showed bias

BBC director-general Tim Davie said it was ‘bemusing’ that Joe Lycett was booked for Laura Kuenssberg’s political show on Sunday.

The comic’s sarcastic support of Liz Truss was the talking point of the new programme – with the Daily Mail raging in front-page story how it proved BBC comedy was biased against the Conservatives.

Davie told MPs on the Culture Select Committee today that the Corporation had received 66 complaints about the show but denied Lycett’s appearance was symptomatic of wider left-wing leanings.

‘I don’t think it displayed BBC bias in the slightest,’ he said. ‘The audience saw it for what it was.

He admitted the production team ‘hadn’t got everything right’, adding: ‘We can debate the merits of that particular booking’ adding that the comedian ‘may not be the next booking we make’.

But he praised Kuenssberg, adding: ‘What I would say is Laura conducted herself as the BBC host in an exemplary fashion in a slightly difficult situation. We move on.'

Tory MP Steve Brine started the conversation by telling Davie: ‘Whatever your opinion ... for a brand new show, which really wants to get off to a good start, when you’re booking a pundit to go on, Joe Lycett is not an uncontroversial figure.

‘How about a conversation before output where someone says "you know what, a new show, new start, new term, let’s not book Joe because we know what Joe’s going to deliver".’

On the show Lycett said:  ‘I’m actually very right wing and I love it. I thought she gave great clear answers. I know exactly what she’s up to.’

Speaking about an interview Truss gave about the cost-of-living crisis, Lycett deadpanned: ‘ I loved it. I thought she was very clear… I’m reassured

‘The haters will say that we’ve had 12 years of the Tories and that we’re at the dregs of what they’ve got available… I wouldn’t say that because I’m incredibly right-wing.’

Lycett’s disruptive stance won him praise, with LBC's James O'Brien tweeting: 'Beyond brilliant. These ludicrous discussions & pretty much all political panels dance around the fact that we’re governed by dissembling imbeciles propelled to power by the epic lies of Brexit. Presenters like @bbclaurak  are complicit. @joelycett  just found the antidote. Genius.'

At the weekend the Mail on Sunday criticised the BBC for bias over the latest episode of Have I Got News For You, in which host Jack Dee referred to Boris Johnson as a ‘cosmic cunt’.

However, the comedian was only quoting one of the former Prime Minister’s own Cabinet colleagues, as reported in The Times.

Published: 6 Sep 2022