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BBC hit with complaints after Fiona Bruce interrupted Nigel Farage too
much
(HTM) Source
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BBC's Question Time Leaders' Special on June 28th generated public
complaints after viewers felt Reform UK leader Nigel Farage was
interrupted by presenter Fiona Bruce. The broadcaster acknowledged
that they had been contacted by people who took umbrage at the
broadcast.
"We received complaints from people who felt Fiona Bruce interrupted
Nigel Farage too often, and that the audience were biased against
him," they wrote on the BBC website. They did not clarify how many
people took issue with the programme but they require at least 100
complaints before they address it on the site.
Express.co.uk has contacted the BBC for further comment.
The corporation responded to the complaints in a lengthy post
defending Ms Bruce. They also explained how the audience was selected
to address accusations of biased coverage.
"Just before Mr Farage's questions started the Question Time host
Fiona Bruce reminded him, 'You're here to answer questions from the
audience, you know I'll not interrupt you, that's my aim, unless
obviously you stray off the point or in fact if the question isn't
answered.' This was a similar reminder to the one given to Adrian
Ramsay, leader of the Green Party, earlier in the programme and to the
other four party leaders in a previous special edition of the
programme," the BBC said in their response.
"After reviewing the programme we're satisfied that Fiona only
interrupted Mr Farage to bring him back to the question at hand, to
clarify a point or to provide context to our audience. We're satisfied
Fiona treated all leaders fairly," they continued.
"With regards to the audience, it made up of broadly similar levels of
supporters of Reform UK and the Green party, with voters who intend to
support other parties also included," the statement informed.
"There were also a number of people, with a range of political views,
who were still making up their mind.
"Of course, given this is a programme driven by questions and comments
by audience members, we have no way of predicting how the debate will
develop or which issues will spark a reaction.
"The audience were asked in advance to submit what questions they
would like to ask, and a question was then asked by an audience member
from one of the most popular categories," they clarified.
Alongside the official complaints made to the BBC viewers took to
social media on the night of the broadcast to slam what they felt was
unfair treatment of Mr Farage and audience bias.
Amongst those fuming was GB News broadcaster Patrick Christys who
said: "This BBC audience is one of the most ridiculous things I've
ever seen. It's simply not representative of the views of wider
society".
Former MEP and right-wing commentator Patrick O'Flynn scolded: "I
think I'm right in saying not a single person in that BBC audience
applauded anything Nigel Farage said".
"Reminds me of doing BBCQT for Ukip in Clacton on the day of the
Clacton by-election. Ukip won with 60% of the vote. But only two
sympathisers were in the Lab-packed audience."
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