Dara Ó Briain and David Baddiel condemn BBC for commissioning Scarlett Moffatt conspiracy theory podcast

Ó Briain faces backlash for singling out Moffatt in now-deleted tweet

Dara Ó Briain and David Baddiel have condemned the BBC for commissioning a podcast in which reality television star Scarlett Moffatt investigates conspiracy theories.

In a since-deleted tweet, Ó Briain expressed that he was saddened that the BBC appeared to not “want to make” any more editions of the long-running astronomy series Stargazing Live, but that they were able to fund Moffatt’s podcast.

“Trying not to be depressed today that while the BBC don’t seem to want to make any more Stargazing Live, they will pay Scarlett Moffatt to make a podcast about how she doesn’t believe in the Moon landings,” the Irish comedian tweeted.

When one of Ó Briain’s followers asked him why he was “taking out his grievances” on Moffatt, Ó Briain replied: “Because she got paid to do a 10-part series about her favourite conspiracy theories. Scarlett is a lovely person, but that is just nonsense.”

Moffatt, who found fame on Channel 4’s Gogglebox before winning the 2016 series of I’m a Celebrity and becoming a TV presenter, hosts the podcast Scarlett Moffatt Wants to Believe. It finds the star investigating popular conspiracy theories.

Mysteries so far explored on the podcast, which can be streamed via BBC Sounds, have included whether Prince Charles is a vampire, whether Beyoncé is a member of the Illuminati, and whether the Loch Ness monster is real.

Replying to Ó Briain, Baddiel suggested a comparison between Moffatt’s podcast and a documentary he presented on holocaust denial.

“I listened to it,” Baddiel tweeted. “There’s a fair bit of Scarlett saying, basically, ‘I just want people to be allowed to question what’s handed down to them, and make their own minds up.’ That was something I heard quite a lot during the making of this.”

In a second tweet, Baddiel wrote: “I too think she’s a very nice person. But there’s a reason why beliefs such as the moon landings were faked and that the world is secretly ruled by a shadowy elite called the Iluminati (another episode) lead on to very bad places.”

O Briain’s since-deleted tweet about Scarlett Moffatt (Twitter)

After receiving a backlash for his tweets, Ó Briain wrote: “For the record, I’ve met Scarlett, she was a guest on Blockbusters, and she is a lovely person, so please don’t give her any grief. I’ve not tagged her in here. I just think this kind of series is a shame. You’ll get no credit from me for personal abuse, though. OK?”

Stargazing Live was an astronomy programme that ran from 2011 until 2017. After a hiatus in 2018, it returned for a special in 2019 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the moon landing.

Ó Briain hosted the series alongside scientist Brian Cox and presenter and biochemist Liz Bonnin.