Fiona Bruce issues major update as Question Time pulled | UK News

Fiona Bruce introduced Question Time to a halt minutes before the BBC politics show got here to an end to announce a major schedule shake-up. On Thursday night time (June 4), the 62-year-old broadcaster returned to the helm for a particular version of the late-night show forward of the Makerfield by-election. She welcomed the candidates for the upcoming election, including Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, Conservative MP Michael Winstanley, Liberal Democrat candidate Jake Austin, Green Party MP Sarah Wakefield and Reform MP candidate Robert Keyon onto the panel.

The viewers members have been fast to grill the politicians days before the big vote, but moments before the show ended, the broadcaster made a shock announcement. She told viewers: “Question Time is coming off air for the World Cup for all you footy fans.

However, she reassured viewers that the show isn’t leaving the airwaves for good as she shared their return date later this year. She went on: “We shall be back in September, prepared to start again. So thanks, all people, from Makerfield and from Question Time.”

But this isn’t the first time the politics show was pulled from its regular slot. Last month, the show was forced to go off air as the country geared up for the local elections. This was due to polling stations remaining open until 10pm that night, meaning television and radio broadcasters were prohibited from airing political coverage of the election until they closed.

Instead, the program was broadcast for a post-election special on May 8, with the recording taking place in the country’s capital. Fiona alerted audiences to the alteration the previous week, reminding viewers: “Let me just say that we’re in London next week for our programme and we’re not going to be on air on Thursday.

“That’s the results night for the elections. We are going to be on air on Friday when most of the results will have come in. So we shall see where we are.” BBC viewers noticed intensive coverage of the elections on Friday, with broadcaster Sophie Raworth main the coverage with Vicki Young at her aspect.

Senior allies are demanding an on-air apology, a written apology posted online for seven days and a full probe into why Mr Chorley repeatedly used the phrase “white cold rage” instead of “pure, cold rage”. If these calls for aren’t met, they may refuse to seem on BBC exhibits transferring ahead.