Dara O’Briain mocks social distancing measures on One Show: ‘This is extreme’

Comedian was sat on a stool at the other side of the studio to his hosts

Dara Ó Briain poked gentle fun at The One Show over its new social distancing measures, as the comedian found himself sat miles away from host Alex Jones.

The BBC1 programme was previously criticised for supposedly not paying enough attention to the government’s social distancing advice. It was then mocked by some for making drastic changes to its set.

In-studio guests are now seated so far apart from the hosts that they appear to be edging off-set, as O’Briain noted on Tuesday’s (21 April) episode.

“It's a pleasure to be here. I mean, the show was always slightly unfriendly, The One Show, but this is really to an extreme,” he joked.

“I'm sorry, what?!” Jones asked, pretending to be outraged.

O’Briain continued: “There was always a sense that the floor was lava about this show. You've properly gone for it! You've made a thing of 'Well, the guest can sit on a stool off in the corner!'”

Jones suggested O’Briain’s stool could be called “isolation island”, to which he responded: “You’ve spared literally no expense at making it comfortable.”

During the show, he also announced that he will produce a series of films for The One Show with Professor Brian Cox.

Jones’s fellow host Matt Baker will return to The One Show on Thursday night’s episode to present the BBC’s Big Night In telethon, just weeks after departing the chat show. Jones herself will be watching from home.

The One Show airs Mondays through Fridays at 7pm on BBC1. Find out more about the BBC Big Night In here.