BBC admits ‘mistake’ after editing out laughter from clip of Boris Johnson on Question Time

The BBC has admitted it made a “mistake” following accusations that a Question Time clip was cut in a way which edited out laughter directed at the Prime Minister.

The broadcaster said it had cut a clip of Boris Johnson on the BBC‘s Question Time leaders’ special on Friday for a shorter package to be shown on Saturday’s lunchtime bulletin.

In a statement, the BBC accepted that the clip “didn’t reflect the full reaction to Boris Johnson’s answer”.

The full clip, which includes audible laughter, was shown on the BBC‘s flagship News At Ten programme on Friday evening.

However, thousands of people have shared a video of the shorter clip on social media, in which no laughter can be heard.

The BBC said there was “absolutely no intention to mislead”.

In a statement released today, the BBC News press team said: “This clip from the BBC‘s Question Time special, which was played in full on the News at Ten on Friday evening and on other outlets, was shortened for timing reasons on Saturday’s lunchtime bulletin, to edit out a repetitious phrase from Boris Johnson.

“However, in doing so we also edited out laughter from the audience.

“Although there was absolutely no intention to mislead, we accept that this was a mistake on our part, as it didn’t reflect the full reaction to Boris Johnson’s answer.

“We did not alter the soundtrack or image in any way apart from this edit, contrary to some claims on social media.”

The independent regulator Ofcom confirmed that 46 people had complained about the clip as of 3pm today.

Johnson was taking part in a Question Time special in Sheffield, which featured the leaders of the four main political parties and was hosted by Fiona Bruce.

During the programme, in which each leader was quizzed by audience members for half an hour, the Prime Minister refused to apologise over his past use of language.

The Tory PM was asked to apologise and admit he had personally contributed to “racist rhetoric” during his journalistic work.

Bruce challenged him for comparing veiled Muslim women to “letter boxes”, referring to “watermelon smiles” and “flag-waving piccaninnies” and to “tank-topped bum boys”.

Johnson said he “genuinely never intended to cause hurt or pain to anybody and that is my intention”.

But the audience scoffed when he added: “If you go through all my articles with a fine-tooth comb and take out individual phrases, there is no doubt that you can find things that can be made to seem offensive and of course I understand that.”

The other party leaders also faced a brutal televised grilling.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was pushed on whether or not he would pick a side during another referendum, while Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson had to deny she was treating voters as “stupid” over her plans to revoke Article 50.

Picture: Jeff Overs/PA Wire