Lively teen crashes live BBC report on race for next PM and parrots reporter

AN UNWITTING BBC reporter fell victim to a cheeky chappie who decided he wanted to get involved with an outside broadcast on the battle to be the next Prime Minister.

Reporter Tim Donovan, 55, was out on the streets in Uxbridge giving an update on the battle between Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt to be the next leader of the Conservative party.

BBC

The BBC’s political editor for London was explaining to viewers of its regional news service there would be a series of hustings and debates up and down the country in the battle to get their hands on the keys to Number 10.

Donovan said: “What happens now is a series of hustings, events, debates up and down the country 15 or 16 of them.

“There may even be – wait for it – some broadcast interviews before the members vote about 150,000 or 160,000 Conservative members.

“Now we expect Boris Johnson to make much of his record in London now that will divide opinion because not everyone thinks he did a good job.”

Then out of the blue a teenage lad appears with what appears to be a mobile to his ear and initially stands behind the reporter.

When Donovan explains that Mr Johnson, who is the MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, initially had a 12,000 majority, the teen leaps in front of the presenter and with a cheeky grin and yells: “12,000”.

When Donovan side steps the youth to continue his piece to camera and adds his majority has now dropped down to 5,000, the lad then yells out “5,000”.

As the piece is being concluded, Donovan adds: “Some people think it won’t happen again.”

The teen continues to parrot the reporter and shouts out: “Won’t happen again”.

The BBC then quickly cuts to the studio and the anchor presenter Riz Lateef, who didn’t look too impressed, wryly commented: “Lots of people trying to get in on the act there.”

Boris and his rival Mr Hunt will face a gruelling 16 head-to-head debates around the country in the coming weeks – before Conservative party members vote on who they want to be their next leader.

Boris’ team were accused of “dirty tricks” by lending votes to other teams and then withdrawing them.

The former Foreign Secretary is still the firm favourite, with odds of 1/14 to become the next Tory leader and take the PM crown.

But Mr Hunt, on 8/1, has vowed to give Boris the fight of his life.

Ex-Brexit boss David Davis, who once also ran to be the Tory leader back in 2005 against David Cameron, said his advice would be: “Be yourself, be sober and remember the country” in order to win the crown.

He urged Mr Johnson to be “steady and stick to the practicalities”.

BBC

BBC