Boris Johnson Loses Place in Speech Before Praising 'Genius' of Peppa Pig

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson made an unusual address to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) conference on November 22, losing his place in his speech for some time before going on to heap praise on the cartoon character Peppa Pig.

Speaking at the event in South Shields, Johnson became visibly flustered as he lost his place, saying repeatedly, “Forgive me” before finding what he wanted to say.

A couple of moments later, he told the audience that he had been at Peppa Pig World the day before, and went on to praise the success of the character.

“I love it," Johnson said. "Peppa Pig World is very much my kind of place: it has very safe streets, discipline in schools, heavy emphasis on new mass transit systems.”

He said Peppa Pig was an example of successful UK creativity, saying, "Who would have believed […] that a pig that looks like a hairdryer or possibly a sort of Picasso-like hairdryer, a pig that was rejected by the BBC, would now be exported to 180 countries with theme parks both in America and China as well as in the New Forest?”

Saying Peppa Pig was now a business worth £6 billion, Johnson summed up by saying, “I think that is pure genius, don’t you – Peppa Pig?” Credit: UK Prime Minister via Storyful