You’ve levelled me up... Gove stuck in lift

MICHAEL Gove managed to see the funny side yesterday after getting stuck in a BBC lift for over half an hour.

The 54-year-old MP was due to appear on Radio 4’s Today programme but the mishap at Broadcasting House meant his interview had to be delayed.

When eventually released, Mr Gove, pictured, joked with presenters. He said: ‘After more than half an hour in the lift, you successfully levelled me up, so I’m delighted to be here.’

He added the incident may have provided inspiration for an episode of BBC satire W1A.

After the ex-Levelling Up Secretary was told by presenter Nick Robinson a ‘free Michael Gove’ hashtag was circulating social media, he said: ‘I suspect there were rather more people hoping I would be incarcerated for longer.’ Later, the politician told LBC: ‘Thanks to the good offices of the Today programme, and also thanks to my texting the BBC chairman, I was liberated.’ Mr Gove had been touring broadcast studios to talk about tackling the cladding scandal.