QUESTION Time has come under fire for featuring a GB News presenter before the programme has even aired.
The BBC show announced Michelle Dewberry will be in the line-up for tonight's episode along with Tory MP Robert Buckland, the SNP's Kate Forbes, Labour MP Lisa Nandy and journalist Paul Mason.
GB News, which is due to launch later this year, is chaired by former BBC journalist Andrew Neil and will target Conservative-leaning audiences.
Dewberry, who won The Apprentice in 2006, ran for election in Hull as an independent and for the Brexit Party. She will appear on GB News five times a week.
Dewberry's Question Time appearance sparked backlash on social media.
Paul Foulkes-Arellano questioned why Dewberry was invited over someone from the Green party, saying: "Can you explain why guest from @GBNEWS is invited @bbcquestiontime - but no-one from the UK's 3rd largest political party (from which no representative has been invited since 2019) Why is @bbc shunning @TheGreenParty? Is that a @CCHQPress directive so you keep TV licence?"
Can you explain why guest from @GBNEWS is invited @bbcquestiontime - but no-one from the UK's 3rd largest political party (from which no representative has been invited since 2019) Why is @bbc shunning @TheGreenParty? Is that a @CCHQPress directive so you keep TV licence? https://t.co/9lsShZwIzd
— Paul Foulkes-Arellano (#Circuthon) (@paanfo) May 12, 2021
Cristina Velasco agreed, saying: "@bbcquestiontime continues ig noring@TheGreenParty. I think people would like to see one of our politicians because our party is getting stronger every day. You can see it in the #LocalElections2021, especially in cities like London,Bristol and Brighton."
@bbcquestiontime continues ignoring @TheGreenParty. I think people would like to see one of our politicians because our party is getting stronger every day. You can see it in the #LocalElections2021,especially in cities like London,Bristol and Brighton. #GreenWave #GreenSurge https://t.co/ECBsjvuR5c
— cristina velasco (@cristinacalgary) May 12, 2021
Others questioned why someone from GB News is on the show as it hasn't launched yet.
1.
Why the fuck is the BBC platforming GB News before it's even launched?! https://t.co/63Zns7XyiF
— Tom (@TEWoolmore) May 13, 2021
2.
GB fucking news?! Christ this show, and the BBC, are trash 🚮 https://t.co/lqjutXdlxT
— Dan 🇫🇮🇸🇲🇭🇷🏳️🌈 (@danno2020) May 12, 2021
3.
Comedy gold tonight! Michelle Dewberry is on Question Time. https://t.co/lBPFtZBeUX
— Simon Gosden. Esq. #fbpe 3.5% 🕷🇪🇺🇬🇧🏴☠️🦠💙 (@g_gosden) May 13, 2021
4.
Boycott Question Time #BoycottQuestionTime https://t.co/CNYOE0h6JF
— nic allen (@nic_arch) May 12, 2021
5.
No thanks, I have to remove my eyeballs and scrub them with domestos. https://t.co/LMfzjTDK0y
— ⚫Please, tell the truth or shut up (@neil_mutch) May 13, 2021
6.
Will you have a 'specially-selected' right-wing, racist, Tory-supporting audience again - like you do every week? https://t.co/DTEiMHzsip
— AnotherRandomPerson (@AnotherRandomP9) May 12, 2021
7.
GB News “journalists” currently getting more airtime on the BBC than they’ve even had on GB News. https://t.co/qxDVNodzE3
— Mark Grimshaw (@markgrimshaw16) May 12, 2021
8.
GB News is the establishment presenting itself as anti-establishment. You can be sure of this because Andrew Neil is Mr Establishment presenting himself as anti-establishment for decades. https://t.co/k0X3yTjdYm
— Grant McKenzie (@MrGrantMcKenzie) May 12, 2021
9.
Platforming a GB News presenter alongside Robert Buckland and Lisa Nandy on the first @bbcquestiontime since the Scottish Election result looks as though they’re trying to vulture @_KateForbes.
— James Cromarty (@Dave8001) May 12, 2021
These are not good options for the bbc. But I’m confident she can handle herself. https://t.co/qyR1Ao61kN
10.
GB News is going to be a Farage-like presence on the BBC now, isn't it? https://t.co/U4AK02AYt0
— Quartermaster Hanley 💚✊🏳️🌈 (@MattHanley) May 12, 2021
The GB News team includes Dewberry, Neil Oliver, former Guido Fawkes and Telegraph writer Tom Harwood, former ITV news presenter Alastair Stewart, and former Sky News presenter Colin Brazier.
Neil will present a nightly news programme on the channel containing “Wokewatch” and “Mediawatch” segments, but insisted GB News will conform to Ofcom rules on impartiality.
Critics have said the channel will aim to capitalise on the “culture wars” in the UK, offering comparisons to Rupert Murdoch’s Fox News in the US.
Figures at GB News, including Neil, have rejected the comparison. They say the channel will be aimed at the “vast number of British people who feel underserved and unheard” by the existing media in the UK.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel