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A BBC presenter was forced to step in after Succession star Brian Cox said that he finds Reform UK leader Nigel Farage ‘slightly fascist’ live on TV.
On Sunday morning, the acclaimed actor appeared on the BBC One programme Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg to discuss the latest goings-on in the world of politics with the host and fellow guests the Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham and former Tory culture secretary Nadine Dorries.
At one point, talk turned to Farage, who returned to Reform UK as the leader of the party in June 2024, after previously holding the role from 2019 until 2021.
The 60-year-old was also previously a member of the Conservative Party, and was a founding member of UKIP when he left the Tories in 1992.
Speaking on the BBC programme, Cox opined: ‘I really do worry about the Conservatives.’
The 78-year-old continued, stating: ‘I also think that Nigel Farage is not doing any good at all. I mean, he’s really ruining that party. If I was a Conservative voter, I would really be worried about what’s happening to my party.
‘I’m not a Conservative, and I never will be a Conservative voter, I’d just like to state that first and foremost, but I do worry about his influence. And I find him slightly fascist quite frankly.’
After his remarks, Kuenssberg, 47, pointed out that Farage wasn’t in the studio to defend himself, after previously appearing on the programme.
‘Nigel Farage was here with us last week. He’s not here to defend himself from anything this week, but we did speak to him last week,’ she said.
Reacting on X, one person called @hewitson10 wrote: ‘Gotta love a bit of Brian Cox 👏👏👏Casually calling Nigel Farage slightly fascist.’
Another user called @Jamesogrady300 added: ‘Brian Cox speaking truth to power,’ while @callummccrae1 quipped: ‘Brian Cox speaking for the large majority of the nation there about Nigel Farage.’
However, other viewers were appalled by the comment, calling on the BBC to take action.
One user called @Bradpittkin described the interaction as ‘disgraceful’.
Someone else going by the handle @gerardjasper said that in their opinion, Cox was ‘well out of order’, adding: ‘This fool should stick to acting and the BBC need to make an immediate apology to Farage.’
During a recent interview in The Times, former Prime Minister David Cameron told the publication that in his view, Farage was attempting to ‘destroy’ the Conservative Party.
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‘He is currently trying to destroy the Conservative Party by standing for Reform,’ he said.
‘I want to be as sure as we can that we get no Reform members of parliament and the Conservative Party can move forward.’
Metro.co.uk has Nigel Farage’s representatives for comment. The BBC declined to comment.
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Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg airs on Sundays at 9am on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
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