Fiona and Victoria vie for Question Time chair

FIONA Bruce and Victoria Derbyshire have auditioned to succeed David Dimbleby as Question Time chairman.

Miss Bruce had not been tipped as a contender but took part in an audition behind closed doors for the BBC political debating programme on Monday evening.

The 54-year-old newsreader and Antiques Roadshow host was put through her paces by a cross-party panel of MPs and journalists in front of an audience at a private girls’ school in Dulwich, south-east London.

Miss Derbyshire, 50, who presents her eponymous current affairs show and has repeatedly been tipped for the coveted job, also auditioned on Monday.

Audience members reportedly said she did a better job of interacting with the audience, while Miss Bruce appeared more focused on controlling the panellists. Both their performances were filmed for what has been nicknamed Question Time Idol.

Questions debated included: ‘Should there be a second referendum?’; ‘Did people vote for Brexit for racist reasons?’; ‘Will men ever be held to account for their actions?’

Nick Robinson, Emily Maitlis and Samira Ahmed were seen at the first day of auditions on Sunday. Robinson, 55, a presenter on Radio 4’s Today programme, was 16/1 to take the Question Time job last month.

Miss Ahmed, 50, presenter of Radio 4’s Front Row, was also 16/1 with Ladbrokes. Newsnight’s Miss Maitlis, 48, was 5/1 to replace Dimbleby, 79, who is stepping down after 25 years. She was second favourite after her Newsnight colleague Kirsty Wark, 63.