Why has the BBC’s flagship Question Time become a shambolic shouting match?

HAVING been an avid viewer of BBC1’s Question Time, I was looking forward to its return. But all I felt after watching the show was embarrassment. The panellists were like naughty children and presenter Fiona Bruce was not much better. On many occasions, the two Brexiteers, Iain Dale and Richard Tice, were unable to get a word in over SNP MP Ian Blackford and forceful Labour MP Emily Thornberry. The show was a shambles and so biased. The BBC showed its true colours.

M. KNIGHT, Faversham, Kent. HAVING watched Question Time, it is clear that the BBC has lost the ability to present a rational political discussion programme. The panellists were allowed to shout their views with Fiona Bruce only occasionally saying ‘If you talk over each other, no one can hear what is being said’. Little attempt was made to ensure they actually answered the questions put by the audience. Instead, they were

allowed to spout political dogma and hurl personal abuse. It should not be beyond the technical ability of the BBC to turn off the microphone of a panellist talking over everyone else.

KEN SHuTTLEWORTH, St Albans, Herts.

TWO Question Time panellists could not bear anyone else to have an opinion, but the former presenter David Dimbleby would have been able to control them.

H. KINGSTON, Northampton. QueSTION Time has turned into The Fiona Bruce Show. The audience is supposed to ask questions and the panel to give answers. Ms Bruce asked some of the questions and answered others! emily Thornberry and Ian Blackford were allowed to go on uninterrupted as if they were making an election speech. When others tried to cut in, they were told off. But when it was their turn to speak, the others chuntered over their replies.

ERIC GINN, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts.

HOW did the BBC get away with the bias and disrespect shown to Conservative and Brexit Question Time panellists? The way the Labour, Lib Dem and SNP speakers were allowed to drone on was farcical.

P. IRELAND, Coventry, W. Mids. The BBC’s one-time flagship programme has been reduced to a shouting match. Ian Blackford’s hogging of the limelight during a pig-headed performance was a further example of politicians’ embarrassing behaviour at Westminster.

GEORGE PEPPER, Dover, Kent.

IF ANYONE is in doubt about the calibre of our politicians, they should watch Question Time. Last week’s show was dominated by rude interruptions from politicians. The only panellist with any manners was Iain Dale, a radio presenter.

RONALD CROWE, Hornchurch, Essex