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Question Time got pretty heated tonight on BBC One when Fiona Bruce absolutely owned Nigel Farage.
The Reform Party honorary president, 60, was asked by the BBC presenter why he’d made multiple media appearances this week to front the party’s election campaign when he won’t be standing for MP.
He responded: ‘Don’t ask me, you invited me on the show.’
But then Fiona fired some serious shots at the former I’m A Celebrity contestant, as she replied promptly: ‘We actually asked Lee Anderson but he wasn’t available to come on.’
Mr Anderson was a member of the Conservative Party, before he defected to Reform UK in March 2024.
Mr Farage replied: ‘I had planned to stand at the election, I had planned to have a six month run at it, but a six week run at it is virtually impossible.’
Viewers at home and the studio audience were in bits at the moment, as @daisythedonkey said: ‘Brutally funny when #Farage says; you asked me on. response; actually we wanted Lee Anderson.’
‘I am watching (curiosity got the better of me) and Fiona did tell Farage that they originally asked Lee Anderson and he was second choice, it was a wonderful put down by Fiona… she surprised me!’ said @sarah_sjr64.
Sharing the clip, @hewitson10 added: ‘Fiona Bruce sticking it to Nigel Farage in a very subtle manner, but funny “We actually wanted Lee Anderson to come on but he said no”.’
Elsewhere on the show, Piers Morgan and Mr Farage exchanged a heated moment when a member of the audience asked the latter: ‘Is the reason you’re not standing [for MP] because the last seven times you did you failed to get elected? I’m sure it’s not the case, but I just want to hear your thoughts.’
The TalkTV presenter repeatedly said, ‘You bottled it!’ as Mr Farage then accused Piers of ‘never having the bottle to stand’ before, as the journalist explained that he wasn’t a politician.
Fiona was forced to yell at the pair to stop, before they started jibing at one another about who does and does not have their own TV show.
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Damian Hinds, Wes Streeting and Bishop Rose Hudson-Wilkin also appeared on the panel for discussions about the NHS, education, immigration and Rishi Sunak’s controversial national service proposal.
Mr Farage announced last week he would not be standing in the General Election but wanted to ‘do his bit to help’ Reform UK over the next six weeks.
He said: ‘I have thought long and hard as to whether I should stand in the upcoming general election.
‘As honorary president of Reform UK, I am fully supportive of Richard Tice’s leadership and urge voters to put their trust in him and Lee Anderson.
‘I will do my bit to help in the campaign, but it is not the right time for me to go any further than that.
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‘Important though the general election is, the contest in the United States of America on November 5 has huge global significance. A strong America as a close ally is vital for our peace and security. I intend to help with the grassroots campaign in the USA in any way that I can.
‘The choice between Labour and the Conservatives is uninspiring, and only Reform have the radical agenda that is needed to end decline in this country.’
He has helped Donald Trump’s campaign since 2016.
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Question Time is broadcast live on BBC iPlayer at 8pm every Thursday.
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