Election 2024: Liz Truss loses her seat in Norfolk South West
ITV’s live coverage of Goodwood took an awkward turn after a presenter failed to recognise former Prime Minister Liz Truss and instead interviewed James Hay, who stood beside her.
The pair attended the annual horseracing event in Sussex and were questioned on their favourites.
Heading straight for the wealthy racehorse owner, the presenter asked: “Quick word from Dr James, which of the three do you have the most hope for?”
As he answered: “I couldn’t pick between the three of them,” Truss grinned for the cameras seemingly hoping to be quizzed on her potential bets.
However, the Glaswegian continued: “I mean Subsequent’s done it, he’s proven it. The other two, a lot of potential there so time will tell.”
As well as a successful racehorse owner, James Hay’s wife Fitriani, was the largest single donor to Truss’ Tory leadership campaign in 2022 despite her 45 days in leadership.
According to Body language expert Darren Stanton, Truss was not expecting to be blanked by the interviewer, and she put on the "fakest of smiles" after realising what was happening.
On behalf of Spin Genie, he added that her body language indicates just how "mortified" she was as her "eyebrows came up, mouth was open, eyes were wide".
Although the former PM was not "angry" to be avoided, just "surprised" and "in disbelief" as she was ready to answer the same question from the racing pundit.
As the interview wrapped up, ITV commentator Richard Hoiles recognised the former PM and threw a brutal jibe at her short-lived time in Downing Street.
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This is incredible in several ways, not least of which that I don't think there is another former PM that could go entirely unrecognised through an interview.
— Best for Britain (@BestForBritain) August 2, 2024
But also - mainly - because it results in the BEST IMPROVISED PUT DOWN/SEGUE EVER on television. ~SS pic.twitter.com/qsdLzRAuCa
“That was Liz Truss, wasn’t it?” After a brief pause, he continued: “It was, my eyes are not deceiving me.”
While the cameras panned to the racing prices, Richard brutally joked about her disastrous mini-budget which ended with an economic crisis.
The commentator added: “This market could crash at any minute couldn’t it,” before quickly reverting the topic back to the horses.
Truss looked near-unrecognisable from her familiar dark-coloured outfits from her time as Prime Minister.
Instead, she embraced the sunshine, opting for a white dress, and sheltering behind dark sunglasses.
