Boris Johnson angered Emily Maitlis and Krishnan Guru-Murthy by using Channel 4's coverage of the US election to promote his new memoir.
The former Prime Minister, 60, appeared on America Decides: US Presidential Election, and was quizzed on who he thinks will win the 2024 election: Kamala Harris or his former friend Donald Trump.
Johnson repeatedly held up his book, Unleashed, just moments into the 10pm show, leaving the presenters pleading with him to "put it down".
Maitlis said: "You had said that the lizard part of you wanted Trump to win, is the lizard part of you back this time around."
Johnson laughed as he plugged: "Well, as I say in my book, Unleashed..." Guru-Murthy quickly interrupted: "Stop it! No more plugs. Enough!"
?????? NEW: Boris Johnson has plugged his book already just a few moments into tonight's Channel 4 US election broadcast pic.twitter.com/fZnpwRfIhi
— Politics UK (@PolitlcsUK) November 5, 2024
Maitlis then raged: "Put it down!"
Johnson refused: "No, no, there is absolutely nothing you can do to stop me. I'm allowed to plug my book!"
Guru-Murthy urged: "Come on, it's so cheap. Put it away."
Johnson's repeated plugs infuriated many viewers. One fumed on Twitter/X: "Unbelievable that #C4News @Channel4News have #borisjohnson on their coverage of the #USAElections and blatantly pushing his book. It’s all about Boris Johnson. It’s only ever been about Boris Johnson. We’ve been let down badly by @Channel4 tonight. Where’s the remote?"
Another wrote: "Stop Boris Johnson shamelessly plugging his awful book PLEASE! he is adding absolutely nothing to your coverage other than driving people to another channel."
And a third said: "What were @Channel4 thinking having Boris Johnson and Sean Spicer as panellists on their election night coverage? Utterly unserious and so unwatchable. Johnson plugging his book was the final straw and it had only been on for 5 minutes."
Nevertheless, other viewers were impressed by the line-up of guests. Appearing alongside Johnson was Stormy Daniels, Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen, Trump's White House Communications Director Sean Spicer and Succession star Brian Cox - to name a few.
One viewer tweeted: "Boris Johnson and Stormy Daniels on the panel on @Channel4 at the same time?! Whoever organised this deserves a pay rise."
Another said: "Channel 4 with Brian Cox, Stormy Daniels and Boris is TV gold #USAElections."
And a third praised: "You are missing the dream panel of Boris Johnson and Stormy Daniel on Channel 4."
