The production chief behind Have I Got News For You has attributed a false claim about Euan Blair broadcast on the BBC show to a generation of young producers 'marinated in social media'. Jimmy Mulville, founder of Hat Trick Productions, said the error highlighted the dangers of digital natives accepting widely circulated claims from X without verification.
The first episode of the new series incorrectly stated that Multiverse, the company run by Tony Blair's son, had won the contract to run the government's digital ID system. The claim fuelled online accusations that it explained the former prime minister's support for ID cards, but Multiverse has said it is not involved in the project and lacks the necessary expertise.
Mulville explained on Insiders: The TV Podcast that a freelance journalist posted the story on her Twitter feed, and no one questioned it. He described it as a low-level mistake but indicative of a broader issue, warning against making defamatory claims. The BBC has apologised, removed the episode from iPlayer for editing, and host Victoria Coren Mitchell has publicly stated the claim is false.
Mulville said the production team has tightened rules regarding social media use. The incident comes amid concerns about online misinformation reaching mainstream media, with the original post about Blair still on X, having been viewed nearly 3 million times.
