BBC chaos as Victoria Derbyshire forced to apologise over awkward script blunder

BBC presenter Victoria Derbyshire halted today's episode of Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg to ask a colleague to run over with her questions after leaving them off camera

09:34, 19 Oct 2025Updated 10:32, 19 Oct 2025

BBC chaos as Victoria Derbyshire forgets her questions

BBC presenter Victoria Derbyshire has apologised after she was forced to halt Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg over a blunder with her questions. The guest presenter was filling in for Laura today, giving the likes of Energy and Net Zero Secretary, Ed Miliband, and his Conservative rival, Claire Coutinho, a grilling on the BBC show.

However, the seasoned political broadcaster was seen frantically gesturing to someone off screen as she realised that her questions for Coutinho weren't on her desk. Introducing the shadow secretary, Victoria began: "It was a Conservative government led by Theresa May which first committed the country to net zero emissions by 2050."

However, she then began signalling for someone off-camera to bring her something. She continued: "When Kemi Badenoch announced- ooh. Sorry, I left my questions over there that's why I was doing that.

[Victoria Derbyshire apologised after losing her questions]

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Victoria Derbyshire apologised after losing her questions

"Helen - can I have my questions? I'm so sorry, I've been stressing about it. Thank you. Sorry about that everybody. A bit of TV magic for you."

Despite the awkward interruption, Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg viewers have been praising Victoria on social media, with many calling for her to join the show permanently. "Refreshing to see brilliant Victoria Derbyshire on @bbclaurak today!" one wrote.

"Asking Ed Milliband & Claire Coutinho tough questions+holding Gov't to account even-handedly unlike Laura Kuenssberg who morphs from attack-dog to lap-dog going from Labour to Tory & Reform politicians!"

Another said: "Best episode in recent times, well since last time Victoria hosted.

"A balanced panel, in-depth questioning, great contributions by the guests. Dear @BBC, please can we keep Victoria permanently?" A third tweeted: "Ill be watching it this week as Victoria is on."

Earlier this year, Victoria opened up about her breast cancer diagnosis as she marked 10 years since being cancer free.

The Newsnight host had 301 days of treatment after her 2015 diagnosis and was given the all-clear with an 11 percent chance of it returning.

Speaking to Sunday Times magazines in August, she said: "I thought I was going to die. When I didn't know if my cancer was going to be treatable, we went on holiday to Barcelona."

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She added that she a "million pictures" and insisted that she was in all of them. Victoria also revealed that she didn't initially want to her her family as she went into "practical mode".

Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg airs Sundays at 9am on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

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