BBC viewers have been left fuming over Fiona Bruce appearing to break her own rule just moments into the Question Time Leaders special.
The presenter hosted the two-hour programme on Thursday, with a live audience grilling Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Sir Keir Starmer, Sir Ed Davey and John Swinney MSP.
This followed numerous debates including on ITV and Sky News in the run up to the General Election on July 4, as the politicians have been backing their manifestos.
Viewers however were left distracted from the answers the politicians were giving to members of the audience, and instead focused on Bruce’s comments, with many outraged that she appeared to be ‘interrupting’.
Moments into the programme, Bruce introduced Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed, explaining: ‘Just to say that our rules here are pretty simple. For every leader they are the same.
‘You won’t get interrupted if you keep your questions reasonably brief, and you actually answer the question.’
‘My job here is to keep you to the point,’ she continued, leading into the first question.
But many quickly pointed out she didn’t seem to stick to her own rule.
@VoB1984 wrote: ‘@bbcquestiontime Fiona Bruce’s pledge not to interrupt is going well.’
@Nickmunton said: ‘Introductory comments from Fiona Bruce: “You won’t be interrupted if you answer the question concisely”. Almost immediately she’s interrupting Ed Davey, and continues to interrupt.
‘Please, please, please ask her to stop interrupting. We want to hear the politicians, not FB.’
@MaidstoneLefty fumed: ‘I thought Fiona Bruce’s job was to facilitate the audience and enable a debate led by the audience Not, to continuously interrupt, make snide comments and become the focus of the show.’
‘Fiona Bruce, introducing Ed Davey, says “You won’t be interrupted” then proceeds to interrupt him throughout his attempts to answer questions. She’s the worst host imaginable,’ @PJMCM blasted.
@LynnBraben added: ‘Fiona Bruce said she wouldn’t interrupt. Well THAT lasted all of 2 minutes…’
Earlier this month, Bruce was widely praised for her ‘brutal’ put down of Nigel Farage during Question Time.
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 Bruce 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.’
Of course, viewers were left in bits at the moment, with one saying Bruce’s quip ‘surprised’ them.
Question Time is broadcast live on BBC iPlayer at 8pm every Thursday.
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