BBC Breakfast viewers slam 'unnecessary awkward' Bill Bailey interview

BBC Breakfast fans were left cringing after an 'awkward' interview between Bill Bailey and host on Friday's show.

The 59-year-old comedian and former winner was on the sofa discussing his latest book My Animals, and Other Animals: A memoir of sorts.

In a segment filled with animal snapshots, one particular image of Bill posing with a husky in Iceland threw Naga, 49, for a loop. She quizzically enquired: "Is that your tongue or the dog's tongue?" to which a perplexed Bill retorted: "That's the dog's tongue, what do you mean is that my tongue? It's coming out sideways! That's not the sort of thing I'd do! That's the dog's tongue!"

However, Naga didn't back down, justifying her query by saying: "Look you can see if someone said that's your tongue, it would be believable!" prompting Bill to quip: "That's not the question I thought I was going to get today: 'Is that your tongue or the dog's?'"

When the conversation turned to AI potentially replacing comedians, Bill confidently dismissed the idea, jesting: "Do you think? No way, AI could never replace me! Look, AI, the tongue would come straight out you'd know whose tongue it was!", reports .

Naga playfully responded with: "You're saying it as a compliment, the husky had a nice tongue!" leaving Bill to laugh off the bizarre compliment with a bemused "Alright..."

Viewers took to , now X, to express their discomfort over the 'awkward' interview, particularly when the conversation veered towards tongues.

One viewer expressed: "Had to turn over from that Bill Bailey interview, glad I wasn't on my own feeling awkward watching that. Dreadful stuff. #BBCBreakfast", while another commented: "#bbcbreakfast Another awkward interview with a celeb promoting their book.. Why bother?"

Meanwhile, a different user chimed in with: "#BBCBreakfast Charlie and Naga, never failure to take the opportunity to make an interview unnecessary awkward."

It comes as Bill's new book teases in a synopsis: "In his first memoir, beloved comedian and national treasure Bill Bailey shares stories of his life - and the animals he's met along the way."

and revealed his family didn't expect him to go far in the competition.

The comedian was the when he was paired with and they lifted the Glitterball Trophy together.

BBC Breakfast continues on weekdays at 6am on both BBC One and BBC iPlayer.