BBC Question Time audience in hysterics as Fiona Bruce skewers floundering panellist

The audience last night were in hysterics as a floundering panellist squirmed as he tried to deflect an answer.

had to step in to maintain order during the feisty episode - the last of its current series - as ap Iorwerth, Leader of Plaid Cymru, went "quite far off the subject". The presenter interjected to remind Mr Ap Iorwerth the audience member's question concerned whether or not devolution had made life better for the people of Wales.

But the Leader of Plaid Cymru again rambled about "the refurbishment of Westminster" - and it left the audience in Cardiff laugh and sigh in frustration. So, defiant Ms Bruce, presenter of the topical debate show since 2019, cut in again: "Does anyone else think it has got anything to do with the refurbishment of Westminster." Although the audience shouted in unison: "No," Mr Ap Iorwerth, 52, continued his waffle.

MP Chris Bryant, Minister of State for Creative Industries, Arts and Tourism, addressed the question, highlighting how his party had helped Wales through devolution, such as by introducing free prescriptions in Wales. Yet he was interrupted again - this time by journalist and broadcaster Emily Sheffield - and so Ms Bruce stepped in to further restore order.

"Let him finish... No, no, no! Do you know what? I am taking control of this, because you guys are jumping in all the time," the presenter shouted, to which the audience applauded again.

READ MORE:

The topic arose on Thursday's show following the decision in the Senedd, the Welsh Parliament, to increase the number of Members of the Senedd (MSs) from 60 to 96 at the next election, at the expense of taxpayers. One member of the audience suggested money would be better spent on teachers, nurses, doctors and other public service workers.

Mr Ap Iorwerth, who has been an MS since 2013, tried to deflect this concern, but Ms Bruce continued to press the politician, who is also a journalist, into an answer. He eventually tried to mock Westminster, saying: "These sound like big numbers but, there is a job of work being done on the Houses of Parliament, refurbishment of the building in Westminster. The estimated cost of that is something I think like..."

It was then when Ms Bruce took the reins, cutting in to insist the topic was being hijacked. She said: "Are we not quite far off the subject now in fairness? We are not talking about Westminster... Rhun, Rhun, I'm going to stop you there... Rhun, please stop talking. No, because we are not talking about Westminster, the refurbishment of Westminster."

But the politician took it back to his original point, leaving the audience - and Mr Bryant - in the Welsh capital perplexed. Mr Bryant retorted: "And he wants to run Wales?!" He then was able to praise Labour's work on devolution and, in one simple sentence, answered the original man's question. The MP for Rhondda and Ogmore said: "I think it needs more doctors and nurses than it needs more politicians to tell you the truth."