BBC branded 'appalling' as Question Time sinks to 'cynical bias' with Nigel Farage facing grilling from 'rigged audience'

The second section focused on Farage’s stance on immigration but the Brexit stalwart failed to receive applause from the audience in Birmingham.

Despite immigration emerging as a major issue ahead of July 4, Farage’s comments appeared to fall on deaf ears as a backlash from audience members continued.

Comments from the floor were not seemingly all too reflective of opinion polls on immigration, with a survey conducted earlier this year suggesting nearly nine in 10 UK parliamentary constituencies want to see net migration reduced and controls tightened.

However, Fiona Bruce suggested audience members reflected the views of the wider electorate, including Reform UK voters.

“Each of our two guests will face 30 minutes of questions from our audience who represent a mix of political sentiments, including many who are still making up their minds and supporters of both the Greens and Reform,” the veteran BBC presenter said.

Responding to Question Time’s final leaders' special, conservative commentator Connor Tomlinson said: “This Question Time is appalling. They've packed out the entire audience with people shouting at Nigel Farage and calling him a racist.

“Every question is identical and tiresome If I believed Ofcom would uphold impartiality standards against the BBC, I would complain about bias.”

Former Liberal Democrat MP Lembit Opik added: “Fiona Bruce is complicit in failing the viewing public by spending - so far - the ENTIRE interview time on migration and racism. It’s so disappointing to see the once-impressive BBC sink to this cynical bias.”

• REVEALED: Seven key knife-edge seats that Reform is on the brink of snatching - is it YOUR local area?
• Nigel Farage reacts to reports of 'racist' Reform UK campaigners
• Reform's Ann Widdecombe defends party as supporter's racist comments are revealed

Steve Miller, who previously presented Fat Families, also said: “The BBC audience is not representative. Bias and doesn’t seem aligned to what it should be.”

Other BBC viewers also appeared disappointed about the lack of support shown to Farage.

“Not one clap at the end for Nigel Farage tells you all you need to know about the audience bias from the BBC,” one said. “Yet another absolute stitch-up.”

Another wrote: “Fiona Bruce stop interrupting. You and the biased BBC. This programme is a joke. Rigged audience.”

A critic of the Reform UK leader even conceded: “Not a fan of Farage but this audience is so far left and biased it really isn’t fair terrible from the BBC.”

Another viewer urged Ofcom to look into the matter, saying: "Fiona Bruce and the BBC, hang your heads in shame.

“That truly was the most biased audience in your left-wing history. Ofcom needs to look into that absolute stitch-up.”

Farage’s appearance in Birmingham tonight started almost immediately with questions about Channel 4’s undercover racist report.

The report showed Andrew Parker, a Reform UK canvasser, using racist slurs about Rishi Sunak and Channel crossing migrants.

Responding to the first question, Farage said: “What happened over the last weekend was truly astonishing, a tirade of infective abuse directed at the Prime Minister. The whole thing was unbelievable.”

Farage also doubled down on suggestions Parker is an actor, arguing: "I'm not going to apologise. And we will find out the full truth.”

He added: "But I promise you what happened over the weekend, what was on the front page of The Times today, is a set-up.”

Addressing the footage, Farage also claimed: “This is a political set-up of astonishing proportions.”

He continued: “This was a comedy act. It was designed to hurt us. And sadly, sadly, some people believe it.”

When the question was extended to cover scandal-stricken candidates, Farage revealed he wants “nothing to do with them”.

Reform UK was forced to drop Raymond Saint as its candidate in Basingstoke after it emerged he was recorded a member of the far-right British National Party in 2009.

Bournemouth West’s Ben Aston also posted an antisemitic social media message claiming Jews were “agitating” to import “third-world Muslims” into Britain.

Jack Aaron who is standing against Defence Secretary Grant Shapps in Welwyn Hatfield, even claimed Hitler was “as brilliant as he was utter evil”.

Other candidates appear to have praised Russian President Vladimir Putin, with Reform UK’s Salisbury candidate Julian Malins getting booed at a hustings event.

Farage was later quizzed on his views about net migration and reiterated the UK should leave the European Court of Human Rights to deal with the Channel crossing crisis.