Boris Johnson was “fired for banging on about his book” during a guest appearance on Channel 4’s coverage of the US election, according to the programme’s co-host, Krishnan Guru-Murthy.

It was not clear whether Johnson’s exit from the programme had been planned or if he had departed early.

During the show, the former UK prime minister, was told off for holding up his memoir and plugging it just minutes into the live programme titled America Decides: US Presidential Election.

Channel 4 newsreader Guru-Murthy told Johnson to “put it away” and “stop it, enough” as he twice referenced his new book and attempted to hold it up to viewers. Guru-Murthy described the former prime minister’s actions as “so cheap”.

Johnson retorted: “There’s absolutely nothing you can do to stop me … I’m allowed to plug my book.”

Later during the panel discussion, Johnson said he met with former US president and Republican nominee Donald Trump after his attempted assassination in July. “In case I failed to mention this, I am promoting my book Unleashed, and I had a talk with him about Ukraine,” he said.

When asked about following in Trump’s footsteps regarding a political comeback if he was to win the presidential election, Johnson said: “The answer is obviously contained in Unleashed where you’ll find the full discussion of this subject.”

Co-host Emily Maitlis told him: “We are not all going to read your book, so just tell us, do you want to have a political comeback … You can’t actually answer a single question.”

Johnson responded: “By the way Emily I’ve answered all your questions all night. Currently I am blissfully engaged promoting my book Unleashed, available in all good book stores.”

Later in the programme, Johnson was replaced on the Channel 4 panel by Michael Cohen who served as a lawyer to former president Trump. Guru-Murthy told viewers: “Boris Johnson has been fired for banging on about his book.”

A representative for Channel 4 was contacted for comment by PA Media.