Fiona Bruce hosted a Question Time special about immigration (Image: BBC)

The BBC has responded after it was heavily criticised for inviting two men who entered the UK illegally to be part of the Question Time audience. The episode of the current affairs show, which aired on Thursday November 4, was a special edition from Dover focused on the issue of immigration. It featured a panel comprised of the Migration Minister Mike Tapp; the Shadow Justice minister Kieran Mullan; the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats Daisy Cooper; the Leader of the Green Party Zack Polanski; and Reform UK’s Head of Policy Zia Yusuf.The decision to include the men in the debate has been widely slammed, particularly by Yusuf who claims he was told about their presence five minutes before the show went to air.

Contacted by Express.co.uk the broadcaster confirmed that depsite entering the country on small boats, both men have since been granted refugee status and were no longer illegal. When asked if they had been paid for their appearance the BBC said they hadn’t recieved remuneration but acknowledged they had supplied transport to the studio for the pair.

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A spokesperson said: “Question Time arranges transport for invited contributors but was no one was paid to take part in the programme.”

They also confirmed the pair had not recieved any out of pocket expenses and said the only hospitality they had availed of was “a cup of tea”.

“All audience members are offered tea, coffee, water and a biscuit. These contributors had a cup of tea,” the spokesperson clarified.

Refuting claims that they may have been briefed on what to say, the spokesperson firmly denied this.

Zia Yusuf claims he wasn’t aware the small boat immigrants would appear on Question Time (Image: BBC)

“We spoke to the contributors beforehand to ask them about their experiences, but no one was briefed about what to say during the show,” they said.

They also vehemetly denied allegations made by Reform MP Richard Tice who believed he spotted some headphones on one of the men and questioned what they were.

Taking to X, he wrote: “Did BBC QT give headset and coaching to this Channel illegal migrant? He then has the cheek to tell us, British taxpayers, that we must not leave the ECHR… could not make it up.”

The BBC spokesperson insisted: “This is a ridiculous suggestion and completely false. These were simply a pair of headphones he forgot to take off.”