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Victoria Derbyshire apologises for saying she would break 'rule of six' at Christmas

Presenter Victoria Derbyshire leaves BBC Broadcasting House in London, after it was announced that her TV programme is being taken off air. (Photo by Yui Mok/PA Images via Getty Images)
Victoria Derbyshire has apologised for saying she was willing to break the 'rule of six'. (Getty Images)

Victoria Derbyshire has apologised for saying she would break the “rule of six” to celebrate Christmas with all her family.

The 52-year-old BBC newsreader recently told the Radio Times she was willing to break the coronavirus restriction on households mixing so she could have both her parents over for Christmas.

Now Derbyshire has now said on Twitter: “I’m starting the day by saying I’m sorry: a few weeks ago the Radio Times asked me (amongst other things) what would potentially happen at Christmas with my own family if the rule of six was still in place....

Read more: Victoria Derbyshire discusses growing up with a violent father

“I talked about my mum, her partner & my dad-in-law spending it with us – making seven in our home in a Tier One area (medium). It was hypothetical – however I was totally wrong to say it & I’m sorry. We’ll of course continue to follow whatever rules are in place on Dec 25th.”

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Government restrictions currently prohibit groups of more than six people from different households gathering indoors in a Tier 1 area.

In Tier 2 and Tier 3 areas households are not permitted to mix indoors, while groups of six people or fewer are permitted to meet outdoors only.

The Lancashire-born journalist and mother-of-two had previously told the Radio Times: "If the rule of six is still in place... we're breaking it to have the rule of seven. We just are."

Victoria Derbyshire attending the Virgin TV British Academy Television Awards 2018 held at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday May 13, 2018. See PA story SHOWBIZ Bafta. Photo credit should read: Isabel Infantes/PA Wire (Photo by Isabel Infantes/PA Images via Getty Images)
Victoria Derbyshire has said sorry for her comments about breaking the rules. (Getty Images)

She went on: "It's fine. We'll do it knowing what the risks are. We're not stupid.

"We're going to be sensible and buy a thermometer gun. But we have to be together at Christmas.

"It feels almost irresponsible saying that, but I don't think we're alone in feeling that way.

"We need to see my elderly mum and my husband's elderly dad. We just do."

A study published this week by the London School for Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) found that the rule of six and 10pm pubs curfew had “zero effect” on coronavirus transmission.

Read more: Rule of six laws don’t go far enough, warns Sage adviser

Derbyshire is known for reading the news on BBC and has also hosted Newsnight.

In 2015 she was diagnosed with breast cancer and publicly documented her treatment, including undergoing a mastectomy.

Derbyshire hosted her own current affairs show on weekday mornings on BBC Two from 2015, but it was axed earlier this year due to budget cuts.

Watch: Victoria Derbyshire talks about her childhood living with a violent father

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