Overview

• Skinner left a roundtable interview at Elstree Studios after picking up a journalist’s phone and saying, “I’m not doing this.”
• He later posted an apology explaining he glimpsed messages about a personal matter on the device, said he stepped away to compose himself, and acknowledged he should not have touched the phone.
• A BBC spokesperson said behaviour that falls below expected standards will not be tolerated on its programmes.
• Multiple outlets report producers have decided not to remove Skinner, with the full cast set to record the launch show ahead of the 20 September broadcast.
• The incident followed controversy over Skinner’s prior social-media posts and came a day after director-general Tim Davie told MPs the production team stood by its casting decisions within BBC standards.