BBC blocks Gordon Brown as 'MOTD2' guest

[khurramdar]

BBC blocks Gordon Brown as 'MOTD2' guest

Wednesday, March 10 2010, 11:49 GMT

By Andrew Laughlin,

The BBC has blocked a request for Prime Minister Gordon Brown to appear on Match Of The Day 2 as it would be inappropriate so close to the general election.

Towards the end of 2009, Downing Street asked the corporation for Brown to feature as a guest on the Sunday night football show, which is presented by Adrian Chiles.

The Prime Minister had hoped to discuss England's bid to host the 2018 World Cup but the show's production team decided that it would be unfair so close to the election.

"We made the judgment it wouldn't be appropriate in the run-up to the election," said a BBC spokeswoman.

The corporation is bound by strict guidelines regarding appearances by political leaders in the months before an election, with the need to give balance to all parties.

Last week, the BBC, Sky and ITV reached an agreed format with Brown, Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg and Conservative leader David Cameron for the UK's first ever TV election debates.