Reform UK leader Nigel Farage cancelled his appearance on Laura Kuenssberg’s Sunday show at the last minute
Bethany Whittingham Showbiz & TV Reporter and Monde Mwitumwa
14:20, 03 May 2026
Laura Kuenssberg was back on our TV screens(Image: BBC)
Laura Kuenssberg’s Sunday political programme descended into chaos just moments after it began when Nigel Farage withdrew at the last minute.
On Sunday (May 3), the 49 year old presenter was back to front the latest political developments ahead of next week’s local elections.
The show was set to feature Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch, Green Party leader Zack Polanski, and Labour’s Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander. The Reform UK leader was also scheduled to appear; however, there was an unexpected late alteration, reports the Express.
As the programme commenced, the host revealed a significant adjustment to the guest list: “The moment of truth is almost upon us. On Thursday (May 7), millions of us have the chance to tell politicians what we think at the ballot box. Elections that could decide the Prime Minister’s fate, but it’s 2026, so there are so many parties after your vote.
Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg was thrown into chaos minutes into the BBC show(Image: BBC)
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“Six of them are here today”, she went on. “The leader of the Greens, Zack Polanski, the leader of the Conservatives, Kemi Badenoch, the Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, is here for Labour, but not, however, is Nigel Farage. We told you last week he was fixed to be here, but his team have told us he changed his mind.”
It wasn’t long before viewers took to X – formerly known as Twitter – to voice their frustration over his absence. One person wrote: “Twice now Nigel Farage has failed to turn up for an interview with Laura Kuenssberg. If he was scared of being grilled by Victoria Derbyshire, I’d have some sympathy, but Kuenssberg?”
Another concurred: “Oh! Nigel Farage has bottled it. Realising if he joins in the manufactured attempt to paint Jewish Zack Polanski as antisemitic, he’ll be destroyed, given his documented bullying of Jewish school boys.”
Later in the programme, Laura disclosed the subjects she had intended to explore with the party before he withdrew from the live broadcast.
The Reform leader claims he ‘changed his mind’ about appearing on the BBC show(Image: Getty)
She explained: “With candidates standing, thousands and thousands of them, as we’ve been talking with Zack Polanski about problems with candidates.”
“Reform has had a lot of well-documented problems with candidates expressing or sharing offensive views. Of course, we would have put those to Nigel Farage if he hadn’t changed his mind about coming in this morning.”
One viewer commended: “Good ending by Zack Polanski, pointing out Nigel Farage didn’t have the guts to turn up. We need to be equally combative in these interviews with the likes of Laura. And when she tries to shut us down, plough on.”
Another user concurred: “Wow! Nigel Farage couldn’t even be bothered to show up for his interview on the BBC this morning. Zack Polanski, however, was there to answer all questions, because he actually gives a s**t.”
Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg airs on Sunday’s from 9am on BBC One and iPlayer