An empty podium was put on the stage to represent Johnson, who is favourite to replace Theresa May as Conservative Party leader.
The former Mayor of London – real name Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson – was a no-show on Sunday night's Channel 4 debate.
All five other candidates – Jeremy Hunt, Dominic Raab, Rory Stewart, Michael Gove and Sajid Javid – appeared on the show to answer questions from a studio audience.
Hunt raised Johnson missing the debate as he answered a question about the threat of a no-deal Brexit to business.
The Foreign Secretary asked: "Where is Boris?"
MISSING: Boris Johnson didn't show up to the Channel 4 leadership debate (Pic: REUTERS)
DEBATE: Boris was represented with an empty podium on the show (Pic: PA)
MOCKED: Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt slammed Boris's no-show (Pic: PA)
He went on: "We've been talking about Brexit for 25 minutes now.
"If his team won't allow him out to debate with five pretty friendly colleagues, how's he going to fare with 27 European countries?
"He should be here to answer that very question."
International Development Secretary also laid into Johnson, saying he would not serve in his cabinet if the blonde Etonian became Prime Minister.
Making it clear how he felt about a potential Boris victory, Stewart gestured to the four candidates around him and said he hoped "one of us" won the contest.
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“If his team won't allow him out to debate with five pretty friendly colleagues, how's he going to fare with 27 European countries?”
Jeremy Hunt, Foreign Secretary
Some of the angriest exchanges on the show took place between hard-Brexit-supporting Dominic Raab and Rory Stewart.
Raab said he thought Britain could "manage" the risks of a no-deal Brexit, and didn't rule out suspending Parliament in order to force the deal through if no agreement is reached by the self-imposed October 31 deadline.
"I don't think it is likely but it is not illegal," Raab said.
Raab previously hit the headlines in November last year when he revealed he hadn't realised Britain was an island when considering the implications of Brexit on Dover-Calais trade.
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FURIOUS: Rory Read More – Source
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