Entertainment
Krishnan Guru-Murthy taken off air for a week by Channel 4 after calling MP the C-word during live broadcast-Kim Novak-Entertainment – Metro
He hadn’t realised he was still live.
Channel 4 have taken Krishnan Guru-Murthy (left) off air for a week after he called Steve Baker (right) the C-word on air (Picture: REX/Getty)
Krishnan Guru-Murthy has been taken off air for a week by Channel 4 after accidentally calling an MP the C-word when he believed he was not live.
The broadcaster had accidentally called Northern Ireland minister Steve Baker the slur following a heated discussion between the pair, believing he was no longer on air at the time.
Channel 4 said in a statement: ‘Channel 4 has a strict code of conduct for all its employees, including its programming teams and on-air presenters, and takes any breaches seriously.
‘Following an off-air incident Channel 4 News anchor Krishnan Guru-Murthy has been taken off air for a week.’
Guru-Murthy had been in a heated discussion with Mr Baker over the over backlash Prime Minister Liz Truss is facing from Tory rebels.
As the interview came to an end, Guru-Murthy told the MP: ‘It wasn’t a stupid question Steve, you know it, I’m very happy to go up against you on Truss, any day.’
He was then heard muttering: ‘What a c**t.’
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After the footage went viral due to Guru-Murthy’s microphone still being live, he took to Twitter to apologise, telling fans he had also reached out to Mr Baker directly.
He wrote: ‘After a robust interview with Steve Baker MP I used a very offensive word in an unguarded moment off air.
‘While it was not broadcast that word in any context is beneath the standards I set myself and I apologise unreservedly. I have reached out to Steve Baker to say sorry.’
The MP responded to the tweet, writing: ‘I appreciate you apologising. Thank you.’
It comes after Guru-Murthy had earlier in the week had to make a clarification to viewers after having to explain the use of the word ‘bollocks’ by a guest.
The broadcaster hadn’t realised his mic was still live (Picture: Channel 4)
During an appearance on the show, journalist and columnist Gillian Tett was asked to share her views on comments recently made by Jacob Rees-Mogg after he suggested that the mini-budget was not the main reason behind the market turmoil of recent weeks.
When asked her thoughts on Rees-Mogg’s assessment, Tett responded: ‘To use a non-technical term, that is pretty much bollocks.’
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After the interview, Guru-Murthy turned to the camera to address the language, revealing that he even checked the website for media watchdog Ofcom to check if it broke any rules.
‘Before we go, I’ve had time to clarify whether that word Gillian Tett used to describe Jacob Rees-Mogg’s explanation was within the rules,’ he explained.
‘On the Ofcom regulator website, it describes it as medium language, potentially unacceptable, less problematic when used to mean nonsense.’
He then added an apology to people relying on subtitles for the way the word was spelt, adding: ‘I should however apologise to people who are relying on subtitles for whom it was spelt “bullocks.”‘
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