Episode dated 22 October 2009
- Episode aired Oct 22, 2009
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Nick Griffin
- Self
- (as Nick Griffin MEP)
Chris Huhne
- Self
- (as Chris Huhne MP)
Jack Straw
- Self
- (as Rt Hon Jack Straw MP)
Sayeeda Warsi
- Self
- (as Baroness Warsi)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis episode featured the first appearance on the series of a far-right politician, Nick Griffin of the British National Party. The BBC invited him to appear on the series following his election with another BNP member to the European Parliament earlier in the year. The BBC's decision caused intense controversy in the media and amongst mainstream politicians. Home Secretary Alan Johnson criticised the decision and said that he would not be prepared to appear on an episode with the BNP. Welsh Secretary Peter Hain suggested that the BBC could face legal action over the decision and wrote in protest to the Director-General Mark Thompson. Thompson rejected the protest, claiming that the BBC could not act to censor a democratically elected party. The BBC Trust also supported the decision. Anti-fascist groups protested outside BBC Television Centre on the night of the recording of the episode, which achieved a peak audience of 8.3 million viewers, the highest rating ever achieved since the series began in 1979.
- Quotes
David Dimbleby - Chairman: Denying the Holocaust. Did you deny the Holocaust?
Nick Griffin: I do not have a conviction for Holocaust denial.
David Dimbleby - Chairman: But you did deny it?
Nick Griffin: I did- I...
David Dimbleby - Chairman: Why are you smiling? It's not a particularly amusing issue.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Russell Howard's Good News: Episode #1.2 (2009)
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