Throng

Question Time is, for the most part, great value for money. It gives us, The People, the chance to hoot and bray at idiot politicians much in the same way they shout at each other during Prime Minister's Question Time.

It's a lovely format and is guaranteed, week after week, to enable all of us sat at home, the chance to get furious and unload a week's worth of hate in one felled swoop.

Usually, the politicians get the brunt of it but, astonishingly, last night, they were all knocked into a cocked-hat by the idiotic, reactionary dribblings of Carol Vorderman who, if there's any justice in the world, will never work in television again after last night's meltdown.

If you didn't see it and want a quick bite-sized snippet of how bad she was, let's put it this way:

In a shameless bid to jump on the traffic bandwagon, I'm getting this post out quickly. Also, to ride the stirring of political feeling that briefly flashed through Britain and its various social networking sites.

You see, for the first time in yonks, Question Time (BBC One) managed to get people feeling political.

Whilst many have bemoaned the fact that the BBC were allowing a racist on the panel, most have come away from the viewing (well, most people I've noticed with my jaundiced eye) feeling thrilled at Griffin's ineptitude and the fervour in which everyone (they knew) disagreed with what he said.

Nick Griffin's imminent appearance on the BBC's Question Time has caused a furore that we haven't seen for some time. Some have shunned the show for allowing a Right Wing voice whilst others have implied that Auntie should be criminally investigated for inviting the BNP to a show.

There's trouble brewing. This trouble is in the shape of the BNP. You see, the BNP have been invited to guest on Question Time, the topical debate show which blah blah blah... you know what it is surely?

Denis McShane in The Guardian is calling the whole thing a 'disgraceful PR stunt' and that the BBC should not be allowing "fascists" a platform in which to speak.

While it's true that, personally speaking of course, Nick Griffin & Co have a dreadful agenda... however, as Voltaire said: "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."

Schools Question Time will get its debut on BBC Three on Thursday 9 July and BBC One has extended the current run of Question Time by a further two editions.

Schools Question Time airs first on BBC Three live at 8.00pm on 9 July and then broadcasts at the usual time of 10.35pm on BBC One.

This year's Schools Question Time comes from Salford.

The 36-week series of Question Time, produced by Mentorn Media, has been extended with the BBC commissioning a further two episodes to run on 16 and 23 July, transmitting from Colchester and Stevenage.