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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
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| Griffin complaint over BBC 'mob' | Griffin complaint over BBC 'mob' |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| BNP leader Nick Griffin is to complain to the BBC over his controversial appearance on Question Time, saying he had faced a "lynch mob". | BNP leader Nick Griffin is to complain to the BBC over his controversial appearance on Question Time, saying he had faced a "lynch mob". |
| Mr Griffin claims the normal format of Thursday's programme was changed and it should not have been held in London. | Mr Griffin claims the normal format of Thursday's programme was changed and it should not have been held in London. |
| The fallout from the show - watched by eight million people - has intensified, with Mr Griffin's fellow panellists saying he had been "shown up". | The fallout from the show - watched by eight million people - has intensified, with Mr Griffin's fellow panellists saying he had been "shown up". |
| But critics said the show had given the BNP huge publicity. | But critics said the show had given the BNP huge publicity. |
| The BNP claimed 3,000 people had registered to join the party during and after the broadcast. | The BNP claimed 3,000 people had registered to join the party during and after the broadcast. |
| QUESTION TIME Watch the programme again Question Time on iPlayer | QUESTION TIME Watch the programme again Question Time on iPlayer |
| The BBC has defended the show, which was watched by four times its normal audience but also attracted a large number of complaints, saying it had a duty to be impartial and that audience members had selected the questions. | The BBC has defended the show, which was watched by four times its normal audience but also attracted a large number of complaints, saying it had a duty to be impartial and that audience members had selected the questions. |
| More than 240 complainants felt the show was biased against the BNP, while more than 100 of the complaints were about Mr Griffin being allowed to appear on Question Time. | More than 240 complainants felt the show was biased against the BNP, while more than 100 of the complaints were about Mr Griffin being allowed to appear on Question Time. |
| In addition, more than 50 people contacted the BBC to show their appreciation for the programme. | In addition, more than 50 people contacted the BBC to show their appreciation for the programme. |
| 'Not a Nazi' | 'Not a Nazi' |
| Mr Griffin, who was one of two BNP candidates to be elected to the European Parliament earlier this year, faced robust questioning about his views on race, immigration and the Holocaust from a largely hostile audience. | Mr Griffin, who was one of two BNP candidates to be elected to the European Parliament earlier this year, faced robust questioning about his views on race, immigration and the Holocaust from a largely hostile audience. |
| The BBC is firm in its belief that it was appropriate for Mr Griffin to appear as a member of the panel and the BBC fulfilled its duty to uphold due impartiality by inviting him on the programme Mark ByfordBBC deputy director general Newspapers on Griffin appearance Reaction to Griffin's performance Angry scenes outside BBC BNP on Question Time: Key debates | The BBC is firm in its belief that it was appropriate for Mr Griffin to appear as a member of the panel and the BBC fulfilled its duty to uphold due impartiality by inviting him on the programme Mark ByfordBBC deputy director general Newspapers on Griffin appearance Reaction to Griffin's performance Angry scenes outside BBC BNP on Question Time: Key debates |
| He criticised Islam, defended a past head of the Ku Klux Klan but insisted that he was "not a Nazi". | He criticised Islam, defended a past head of the Ku Klux Klan but insisted that he was "not a Nazi". |
| In a press conference on Friday, the BNP leader said he would be making an official complaint to the BBC about the programme, saying its normal format had been "twisted" so that it focused solely on his views. | In a press conference on Friday, the BNP leader said he would be making an official complaint to the BBC about the programme, saying its normal format had been "twisted" so that it focused solely on his views. |
| "That was not a genuine Question Time, that was a lynch mob," he said. | "That was not a genuine Question Time, that was a lynch mob," he said. |
| He challenged the BBC to ask him on the show again and to allow a wider range of subjects to be discussed. | He challenged the BBC to ask him on the show again and to allow a wider range of subjects to be discussed. |
| He also claimed the audience was not representative of the UK as a whole as levels of immigration in London meant it was "no longer a British city". | He also claimed the audience was not representative of the UK as a whole as levels of immigration in London meant it was "no longer a British city". |
| Mr Griffin's fellow guests on the show said his performance had exposed his real views and the true attitudes of the BNP. | Mr Griffin's fellow guests on the show said his performance had exposed his real views and the true attitudes of the BNP. |
| I felt sorry for the guy, really Bill, 64 What did voters make of Griffin? | |
| Lib Dem home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne said Mr Griffin had been "taken aback" by the hostility of the audience which showed most people in the UK wanted "nothing" to do with his views. | Lib Dem home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne said Mr Griffin had been "taken aback" by the hostility of the audience which showed most people in the UK wanted "nothing" to do with his views. |
| Justice Secretary Jack Straw said Mr Griffin had been subjected to proper scrutiny and that his performance had been "catastrophic". | Justice Secretary Jack Straw said Mr Griffin had been subjected to proper scrutiny and that his performance had been "catastrophic". |
| But Welsh Secretary Peter Hain said the BBC had legitimised the BNP's "racist poison" by inviting its leader onto the show and expressed concerns about the boost it would give to the party's membership. | But Welsh Secretary Peter Hain said the BBC had legitimised the BNP's "racist poison" by inviting its leader onto the show and expressed concerns about the boost it would give to the party's membership. |
| The BNP leader was booed at the start of the recording and accused of trying to "poison politics". | The BNP leader was booed at the start of the recording and accused of trying to "poison politics". |
| Viewing figures | Viewing figures |
| The show covered topics including whether it was fair for the BNP to "hijack" images of Winston Churchill, whether immigration policy had fuelled the BNP's popularity and whether Mr Griffin's appearance was an early Christmas present for the party. | The show covered topics including whether it was fair for the BNP to "hijack" images of Winston Churchill, whether immigration policy had fuelled the BNP's popularity and whether Mr Griffin's appearance was an early Christmas present for the party. |
| The BNP leader insisted his views had been widely misrepresented in the media and denied a string of statements attributed to him, including a 2006 quote in which he said "Adolf went a bit too far". | The BNP leader insisted his views had been widely misrepresented in the media and denied a string of statements attributed to him, including a 2006 quote in which he said "Adolf went a bit too far". |
| "I am not a Nazi and never have been," he said, adding: "I am the most loathed man in Britain in the eyes of Britain's Nazis." | "I am not a Nazi and never have been," he said, adding: "I am the most loathed man in Britain in the eyes of Britain's Nazis." |
| Mr Griffin was challenged by several black and Asian members of the audience, one asking him: "Where do you want me to go? I love this country, I'm part of this country." | Mr Griffin was challenged by several black and Asian members of the audience, one asking him: "Where do you want me to go? I love this country, I'm part of this country." |
| The BBC defended its decision to ask Mr Griffin onto the show saying the audience figures - which peaked at 8.2 million - showed the level of public interest in the scrutiny of elected officials. | The BBC defended its decision to ask Mr Griffin onto the show saying the audience figures - which peaked at 8.2 million - showed the level of public interest in the scrutiny of elected officials. |
| "The BBC is firm in its belief that it was appropriate for Mr Griffin to appear as a member of the panel and the BBC fulfilled its duty to uphold due impartiality by inviting him on the programme," said its deputy director general Mark Byford. | "The BBC is firm in its belief that it was appropriate for Mr Griffin to appear as a member of the panel and the BBC fulfilled its duty to uphold due impartiality by inviting him on the programme," said its deputy director general Mark Byford. |
| Six protesters were arrested and three police officers injured during demonstrations outside BBC Television Centre, where the programme was filmed. | Six protesters were arrested and three police officers injured during demonstrations outside BBC Television Centre, where the programme was filmed. |
| About 25 people managed to get through the gates and run towards the BBC building when security guards opened them to let in a car. | About 25 people managed to get through the gates and run towards the BBC building when security guards opened them to let in a car. |