fiona bruce

Viewers blasted the broadcaster for brushing aside a row over its own alleged political bias (Image: bbc)

BBC Question Time descended into chaos on Thursday night (November 13) as viewers blasted the broadcaster for brushing aside a row over its own alleged political bias. Fiona Bruce fronted the episode from London, joined by Alex Davies-Jones, Ken Clarke, Zarah Sultana and Danny Kruger, but it was a single question that set tempers flaring — “Can we trust the BBC?” The panel launched into a tense exchange over the issue, but within minutes the show moved on, with host Fiona claiming there “wasn’t enough time” to stay on the topic.

The comment left those watching at home furious that the debate had barely been touched and viewers didn’t hold back. One raged: “CORRUPT #bbcqt spent less than 10 minutes on BBC bias/LIES, as predicted all swept under the carpet again. #DefundTheBBC.” Another blasted: “Astonishing to me that BBCQT spent a mere few minutes discussing their OWN bias on their OWN show that’s about debate and opinion. What a sham they are. #defundthebbc #bbcqt.”

bbcqt

Reform UK’s Danny Kruger also tore into the BBC (Image: bbc)

The anger was fuelled by renewed scrutiny over the BBC’s handling of a Donald Trump speech after Panorama was accused of selectively editing footage to make it appear he encouraged the January 6, US Capitol attack.

The edition, aired just a week before the 2024 US election, spliced together clips of a speech Trump delivered that day.

Another viewer was even harsher, saying: “Of course we can’t trust the BBC, they’ve lied at least TWICE with doctored Trump footage it’s there on the record, they tried to get their favoured choice Kamala to win the US Presidential election, they’re also biased against Farage/Reform and Brexit.”

Reform UK’s Danny Kruger also tore into the BBC – blasting Keir Starmer’s leadership and saying the broadcaster needed urgent change: “I don’t think we can trust the BBC at the moment and what we saw the other day is indicative of a broad prejudice and bias that is endemic at the corporation.”

“I wonder if they don’t realise their own biases. They think they’re neutral because they think like how everyone else that they have dinner with thinks and actually they do have political prejudice.

“The government appoint the people who run it, we need a government that understands the values of the people of this country, believes in them and isn’t going to allow the take over of our institutions and its progressive agenda and insists on proper leadership and proper management.”

The BBC has apologised to US President Donald Trump for a Panorama episode that spliced parts of his 6 January 2021 speech together, but rejected his demands for compensation.

The corporation said the edit had given “the mistaken impression that President Trump had made a direct call for violent action” and said it would not show the 2024 programme again.

Lawyers for Trump have threatened to sue the BBC for $1bn (£759m) in damages unless the corporation issues a retraction, apologises and compensates him.