BBC breaks silence as fans hit out over Michael McIntyre and AJ Odudu 'breaking rules'

Comedian Michael McIntyre returned with his Big Show on BBC1 on Saturday night, however the progamme came under fire for breaking BBC rules as AJ Odudu 'plugged' her phone

Michael McIntyre has been accused of breaking BBC rules as AJ Odudu 'plugged' her phone brand – but the network has spoken out.

The comedian returned to screens on Saturday night for his Michael McIntyre's Big Show, where he had Big Brother presenter AJ on as a guest. However, show bosses have faced complaints from viewers after it appeared AJ promoted Google Pixel mobile phones on the BBC One show. The presenter was previously the face of the mobile company from 2022 to 2023.

The episode, which aired on Saturday, was filmed last year as AJ took part in the 'Sent to All' segment. It saw Michael take AJ's phone so he could send a text to celebrity contacts and wait for their replies. Michael noted AJ did not, unlike many, have an Apple iPhone and instead had a Google Pixel. The former Strictly Come Dancing star revealed she previously had an iPhone but claimed it was 'too fragile'.

She said: “Five times in one week I dropped my phone and smashed it. It was five consecutive days in a row and I thought ‘I can’t have this’.” AJ went on to say her phone was "sturdier" and even put it to the test by throwing it from the theatre box to Michael. Yet viewers at home soon branded it a 'plug' by AJ.

Taking to X - formerly Twitter - one said: “AJ does a television commercial for the Google Pixel phone. This is on the BBC. What’s all that about?” Another added: “AJ Odudu spoke about her Google Pixel phone being better than an iPhone for about a minute. Clearly against their guidelines … interested to see what they say as we were agog!”

The BBC has strict guidelines for their shows which prohibits the promotion of products on their shows. When approached for comment, a BBC Spokesperson told the Mirror: "Ahead of broadcast of the programme, it was confirmed to the BBC that AJ Odudu was no longer under contract to promote any smartphone-related organisations."

Last week, the show was accused of blurring Ricky Wilson's t-shirt that read "Trans Rights Are Human Rights". The Kaiser Chiefs frontman wore the labelled T-shirt during a skit but the lettering was unable to be read. Viewers noticed the blurred top as former BBC newsreader India Willoughby wrote: "Shocking. BBC blurring out “Trans Rights Are Human Rights” on Ricky Wilson’s t-shirt when in full view on #MichaelMcIntyresBigShow #BigShow #MichaelMcIntyre. Institutionally transphobic."

Someone else said: "Wow! Really? I never even noticed. Shame they did though. Especially this month, and the judgement passed on those that murdered a trans school girl a year ago almost to the day. Shocking from the BBC." Another added: "I got rid of my TV licence recently as I'm not paying 16 quid a month to an institutionally transphobic organisation." Someone else commented: "Shocking given how they platform anti-trans bigots, well done Ricky though, great ally."

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