BBC Apologises Over Factual Error In Latest Have I Got News For You

Victoria Coren Mitchell presenting Have I Got News For You last weekThe BBC has issued an apology after a debunked rumour was presented as fact during the most recent episode of Have I Got News For You.During Friday night’s instalment of the long-running panel show, guest host Victoria Coren Mitchell introduced a question about the government’s controversial plans to introduce digital ID cards.She went on to claim that the company Multiverse would be overseeing the roll-out of these ID cards, though these rumours had already been dispelled by the fact-checking service FullFact.They said on Tuesday: “[It has been claimed that] Multiverse, a company founded by Tony Blair’s son Euan, has been chosen to run the government’s new digital ID scheme. This isn’t true, according to both the government and Multiverse, which is an “upskilling company”, not a software developer.”FullFact added that the government has “not announced any partner for the project”.While this section of the show was included in the original Have I Got News For You broadcast, when the episode debuted on iPlayer, this part had been removed.A BBC rep told Radio Times: “This week’s Have I Got News for You contained an inaccurate story about Euan Blair’s company, Multiverse, being chosen to develop the government’s contract to produce digital ID cards.“Multiverse is not a software developer and there is no evidence of any involvement in the proposed digital ID scheme, therefore we have taken the episode off BBC iPlayer while we edit the relevant section out.“We apologise for this unintentional editorial oversight.”Victoria wrote on X: “Of course I don’t make the list of news stories to bring up, I just get given it, but I should probably have been more surprised. Duh.“I’m glad to hear that wasn’t an instance of nepotism at all and has been taken out of the show.”She also said: “If you see a clip of me saying the ID card contract has gone to Tony Blair’s son: it hasn’t. That was something I was given to ask about last night, but turns out to be incorrect.”The Only Connect host then quipped this was “bad news for the fact checkers but good news for social mobility”.Meanwhile, if you see a clip of me saying the ID card contract has gone to Tony Blair’s son: it hasn’t. That was something I was given to ask about last night, but turns out to be incorrect. Which is bad news for the fact checkers but good news for social mobility.— Victoria Coren Mitchell (@VictoriaCoren) October 4, 2025MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS:These Are All The Countries That Have Spoken Out About Israel's Involvement At Eurovision 2026Former MasterChef Host Gregg Wallace Begins Legal Action Against The BBCThis Year's Most Controversial Strictly Star Has Become The First Celebrity To Be Eliminated

Comments

Breaking news

Gaza’s ‘perfect storm of hazards’ amid thousands of tonnes of unexploded bombs

Metro

Why the 90s is tasting pretty darned good in this economy: How nostalgia and Americans’ pocketbooks are bringing brands like Chi-Chi’s back from the dead

about 1 hour ago

Taiwan's main opposition party elects new leader in a race clouded by claims of China meddling

Independent

Comments

Similar News

Former BBC Radio 1 DJ Tim Westwood charged with multiple rape and sex offences

Ex BBC Radio DJ Tim Westwood charged with four counts of rape

BBC Celebrity Traitors star Mark Bonnar's life from Scottish childhood to TV fame

Joanna Page and Wynne Evans spark feud rumours as lifelong friends who once boasted about their closeness unfollow each other on social media after their BBC show was axed amid his Strictly scandals

BBC Expert Pinpoints The Israeli Military Mistake Which Led To Gaza Peace Breakthrough

Naga Munchetty REPLACED on BBC Breakfast as Charlie Stayt joined by familiar face in hosting shake-up after weeks of confusion

Young children taking knives to school, BBC finds

Hennessy to lead Clarke v Tshikeva undercard on BBC

Prince William reveals huge BBC TV show that's 'big treat' for Kate Middleton and kids

REVEALED: How much the cast of Celebrity Traitors 2025 are really paid by BBC

Here’s what viewers complain to Ofcom and the BBC about most

Favourite to win Celebrity Traitors revealed as bookies pick their frontrunner ahead of BBC launch - and they're the ultimate dark horse

BBC radio star reveals he had affair with sex worker while married with children

BBC apologises for calling Hamas's October 7 murderous attacks an 'escalation' on second anniversary of the slaughter

Legendary BBC Radio presenter 'Diddy' David Hamilton opens up on his affair with a sex worker behind his first wife's back as he claims 'having children spoils a marriage'

'Devastated' Stacey Solomon seethes 'I was robbed!' as she blasts double awards snub on BBC reality show - and even takes swipe at Joe Swash

Ban the sale of catapults to under 18s, campaigners tell BBC

Tech firm founded by Tony Blair's son Euan pressured BBC to pull HIGNFY episode after host Victoria Coren Mitchell wrongly linked him to Labour's ID card scheme

'Spooked' University Challenge viewers gasp 'how did they know?!' as BBC episode closes with Jilly Cooper 'tribute'- despite being filmed before her death

Watch: BBC correspondents share their memories of 7 October

Breaking news

Gaza’s ‘perfect storm of hazards’ amid thousands of tonnes of unexploded bombs

Ukraine cannot win against Russia, warns top British army chief

Prince Andrew: Timeline of all the royal’s scandals as he surrenders Duke of York title

Can you actually fool AI to push your resume to the top of the pile?

Why the 90s is tasting pretty darned good in this economy: How nostalgia and Americans’ pocketbooks are bringing brands like Chi-Chi’s back from the dead

Taiwan's main opposition party elects new leader in a race clouded by claims of China meddling

US treasury secretary and Chinese vice premier plan another meet over ‘unsustainable’ tariff hike

Prince Andrew named in new Epstein flight logs after giving up royal titles

‘Miserable’ gorillas left behind in old enclosures three years after zoo closes to public

Man fakes his own funeral ‘to see who shows up and how much they care’

All Your Fave It-Girls Are Wearing Loafers – Here Are The Best Pairs To Shop

Government spends £115,000 on ‘influencer marketing’ in less than a year

Investigation launched after budget airline jet almost dives into ocean moments after takeoff

Prince Andrew's antics and scandals have tried royal patience, triggering headlines and suspicions

One scandal too many forces UK monarchy to sideline Prince Andrew

Major police incident on A737 as road near Paisley closed

Teenage girl missing from Scots town as police launch search

Man charged with attempted murder after 'stabbing' on Glasgow street

Gavin and Stacey star Mathew Horne's quiet life in 'special' Scottish village

Air Arabia flight hurtles towards sea at 300mph seconds after take off

'Freaky' thing happens to viral image when you flip it upside down

New blood test for more than 50 cancers 'could transform outcomes'

Crocodile found in UK canal sparks police force's 'strangest appeal ever'

Vet lists five dog breeds she would never own

Woman's texts predicted killer boyfriend's actions days before she died

Europe's top Christmas market of 2025 and it's only 2.5 hours from the UK

Daily Mirror pub quiz: Test your knowledge with these 20 tricky questions!

The Apprentice's Dr Leah Totton reveals concerns behind 'worrying' cosmetic tourism

Moment Ukraine destroys Putin's floating bomb as Russia launches fresh attacks

Gorilla bar worker, 19, found dead in early hours as three people arrested

Man living with dead mum in flat he'd not left for eight years

Prince Andrew still presents 'impossible' problem with no way out as King can't act

DVLA issues urgent warning to drivers over little-known rule

SeaWorld trainer butchered by killer whale who turned 'psychotic' in captivity

'I reversed high blood pressure and palpitations by losing 7st without jabs'

Lip reader reveals Prince Andrew's last public exchange with 'furious' Prince William

Fighting like stags - these MPs caused 'the great rumble in the Westminster jungle'

‘Our babies were taken away in cardboard boxes and effectively put into landfill'

You're eating cheese all wrong! Expert reveals how to store dairy products properly - and why you should NEVER keep blues, cheddars, and bries together

I won MasterChef's most controversial series ever - I was shocked when producers imposed one strict rule you never think about as a viewer

Netflix fans 'obsessed' with 'both hilarious and devastating' new series - binge-watching every episode in a day and comparing it to Orange Is The New Black

I've worked with Rylan Clark and Robert Rinder on their TV shows - both revealed their true colours on set when the cameras stopped rolling

Family's fury that 'Lip King' is selling weight-loss jabs online while on police bail after mother-of-five died following BBL at his clinic

Portugal bans burqas: Wearing face veils for 'gender or religious reasons' will bring fine of up to £3,475

'These monsters can't escape' say Virginia Giuffre's 'vindicated' family as Prince Andrew gives up royal titles and more evidence emerges of his flights on paedophile Jeffrey Epstein's 'Lolita Express' jet

Come Dine With Me's Whisk Man reveals what he regrets most from becoming an overnight celebrity

The world's most endangered animals revealed in breathtaking pictures

Moment Brooklyn Beckham is asked about his mother Victoria's Netflix documentary... after skipping the premiere amid family feud

Punch-ups before lessons and county lines gangs... a day in the life of a secondary school teacher in Britain

How Albanian gangsters use frogmen to hide cocaine on Europe-bound ships - without their crews ever knowing

POLL OF THE DAY: Was Prince Andrew right to give up his royal titles?

Former nun reveals the six-word comment that made her give up her life in a convent to teach yoga in a bikini

The woman with the world's most powerful men at her feet: As Trump fawn's over 'beautiful' Giorgia Meloni, how the 5ft 3in cigarette-loving Italian leader wraps men around her finger

Four men are arrested in France over plot to kill Putin critic who fled Russia after exposing prison abuses

Dominic Cummings says Nigel Farage will be Britain's next Prime Minister - if he can build right team around him

Is YOUR hometown at risk? Terrifying map reveals the towns and cities across England that could be plunged underwater by 2050 - wiping out 8 million properties

How TV golden girls Fearne Cotton and Holly Willoughby rekindled their decades-long friendship after 'drifting apart' as ex This Morning star reaches out to her old pal amid tough time