Fiona Bruce was inundated with backlash over the latest episode of BBC’s Question Time
Fiona Bruce sparked fury with Question Time viewers (Image: BBC)
Fiona Bruce returned to screens to present the BBC’s weekly debate show, Question Time, in which she is joined by politicians, who are forced to answer questions from the general public. During Thursday’s show, which was filmed in Belfast, the host welcomed Labour’s Hilary Benn MP, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland; from the Conservatives, Alex Burghart MP, Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary; John Finucane, Sinn Féin MP; Jonathan Buckley MLA, the DUP’s economy and business spokesman; and author and journalist Aoife Moore.
However, as the episode went on and debates were under way, Fiona sparked fury among viewers who accused her of being biased. These scathing verdicts were issued after she asked the panel about the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Fiona probed: “Can there be peace in Gaza without the involvement of the Palestinians?” Adding to the debate, a member of the studio audience shared: “Since Israel launched its genocide in Gaza, 238 Palestinian journalists have been killed, while reporting the genocide.” However, Fiona had an underwhelming response and simply said: “Ok.”
Fiona asked the politicians about Gaza in a tense debate (Image: BBC)
Looking at the audience, she announced: “I’m going to move on. What’s happening in Gaza is an incredibly important subject; we’ve done it many times.
“On Question Time, we will continue to it again; I know,” and in an attempt to divert the subject of discussion, Fiona added: “But I want to fit this last question in.”
Elsewhere in the episode, the presenter also riled up rage from viewers as she repeatedly interrupted John Finucane MP, who attempted to speak out about his party colleague, who was among the activists detained while carrying aid to Gaza.
The politician stated: “Within the past 22 hours, a party colleague of mine has been kidnapped by the Israeli government. He was part of the flotilla that was intercepted in international waters.”
Before he could finish, Fiona interjected: “Is that the Flotilla with Greta Thunberg?” To which is promptly confirmed, and as he added: “This is a party colleague …” The presenter once again interrupted him.
She asked: “When you say they’ve been kidnapped, they have been detained, have they not?”
Finucane disputed: “You can’t arrest someone in international waters, let’s call this what it is. They have been kidnapped; there’s no lawful basis to take these people into international waters.
“I don’t have enough time to go through the roll call of crimes that have been committed over the past two years, let alone go back.”
Taking to X, one viewer claimed: “Fiona Bruce trying to editorialise for Israel. Apparently, ‘kidnapped’ is a banned word on the BBC.”
Another fumed: “#bbcqt why doesn’t Fiona just tell the panellist to shut up and we just listen to her , this programme has haemorrhaged viewers since she took over.”
“When Fiona Bruce stops presenting #BBCQT I may consider watching it again,” a third raged.
As one called out TV bossed and stated: “@BBC You simply cannot allow Fiona Bruce to continue presenting @bbcqt after this evening’s episode. The mask slipped, & she showed herself to not be impartial and rational.”
While another recounted the conversation in disbelief and penned: “‘Fiona Bruce: When you say they’ve been kidnapped .. John Finucane: You can’t arrest someone in international waters. Fiona Bruce: They’ve been ‘detained’, have they not?’”
