BBC Breakfast viewers threatened to change channels in their droves as the presenters took a swipe at a rival network.
Hosts Dan Walker and Sally Nugent were presenting from the famous red sofa on Tuesday (April 26) and discussing the recent misogyny controversy regarding an article written about Labour MP Angela Rayner.
According to one publication, a source from the Conservative Party accused her of “crossing and uncrossing her legs” in order to “distract” Prime Minister Boris Johnson – which has since been slammed for sexism.
Political correspondent Adam Fleming was on hand to discuss the allegations on BBC Breakfast – but it seems they couldn’t tempt the MP herself onto the programme.
With Rayner scheduled to speak out in public for the first time since the incident, a rival network had poached her first.
Adam was busy telling Sally: “There’s going to be a meeting between the Speaker of the House of Commons, Lindsay Hoyle, and the newspaper that ran the story, and the journalist that first reported it.
“And Angela Rayner’s going to make her first public comments this morning on a sofa on a rival channel… but it will be interesting to see what she says.”
Quick to shut down any talk of network rivals, Sally interrupted Adam to say: “Let’s not think about that, Adam. Let me ask you this – you have been in Westminster for many, many years, and over the last few days we’ve heard stories about the culture there that are really distressing.
“What are you hearing from the people that you know?”
Adam admitted it was “hard to sum up”, admitting: “People have stories about sexism, maybe a bit of homophobia, a bit of sexual harassment, it does exist.
“But in my time in Westminster you’ve seen the institution of Parliament evolve and gradually add in processes and new policies to try and deal with that.”
Fans, however, were too far gone, and admitted they’d already changed channels.
One wrote on Twitter: “Well @BBCBreakfast ‘@AngelaRayner will make her first public comments on the subject this morning on a rival programme’ – way to make me turn over. Thanks for the heads up!”
As another echoed: “#BBCBreakfast I’m guessing @angelarayner’s on #ThisMorning, then.”
Someone else wasn’t happy with Adam’s choice of words, as they complained: “Just heard on @BBCBreakfast that in Parliament there is ‘a bit of sexual harassment’.
“Is it a recipe or what? A bit of sexual harassment here and a pinch of sexism there? It’s a serious matter, a better word choice would be ideal…”
BBC Breakfast airs daily from 6am on BBC One.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
