The One Show hit with complaints after Dan Stevens’ Boris Johnson jibeCydney Yeates

The BBC has defended The One Show after it was hit with complaints following Dan Stevens’ savage swipe at Boris Johnson.

The Downton Abbey star sparked a media frenzy last week after he took aim at the Prime Minister amid the ongoing Partygate scandal, which saw him and Chancellor Rishi Sunak fined for breaching Covid rules.

Dan appeared on the progrramme to promote his new political drama Gaslit, which is based on the true events of the 1970s Watergate scandal that led to former US president Richard Nixon resigning.

Describing the show, he told presenters viewers: ‘Well, what you’ve got is a criminal for a leader who is wrapped in a messy war, embroiled in a stupid scandal and surrounded by ambitious idiots and really should resign and… no I’m sorry… that’s the intro to Boris Johnson.’

While may applauded the moment, the BBC has reported it has received complaints from some who were unhappy with the events that unfolded.

Defending the scenes, the corporation said in a statement: ‘The One Show is a live topical entertainment programme where the hosts are joined by a variety of guests to discuss a broad range of subjects.

Dan went viral after taking a swipe at the Prime Minister on The One Show last week (Picture: BBC)

‘Actor Dan Stevens was a guest on Wednesday April 13 and made comments about Boris Johnson in response to a question from the hosts about his new TV project before going on to talk about the series.

‘These comments were taken in jest and the hosts moved the conversation on to the focus of the interview.’

Dan spoke out after his One Show appearance, saying that he felt compelled to criticise the Prime Minister.

‘I think people need to be held to account and yeah, not a huge amount changes,’ he told GQ.

As a BBC programme, The One Show must follow the broadcaster’s impartiality guidelines.

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But Dan added: ‘There’s impartiality. And then there’s just calling it like it is and just saying what is happening.

‘And I don’t think I said anything that should have been any surprise to anyone.’

The One Show airs weekdays at 7pm on BBC One.

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