To think David Starkey was only on Question Time to test our commitment to free speech?

[drudgetrudy]

Just that. What an obnoxious sexist, racist arrogant man. Also his slow loud speech and over-entitlement to air time.
He expressed a view that life is short and brutal and human nature is pretty evil.
Perhaps he would be happier if he did us a favour and became a hermit.
( I know people are capable of evil-but surely they are capable of altruism and bravery too).

the whole programme made me wince. i was embarassed for all of them. bloody awful all round.

One of my fondest memories from my time as an undergrad was going to Senate House library and witnessing DS go into frothing apoplexy when he was refused admission as he'd forgotten his card.

esp conservative woman, who was seemed so keen to win points woth Mendhi it was silly

She was embarrassing. I don't know who Mendhi Hasan is. He started off very well but failed miserably in not allowing himself to be riled by Starkey.

Douglas Alexander was fine.

I've only just recovered from the apoplectic attack that Julia Hartley-Brewer brought on last week, so when I saw Starkey was on the line up yesterday I decided I just couldn't do it to myself.

His opinions are not part of his age. I am in my 60s-I have friends who are older-we are agreed that he is an offensive twat.

Squoosh, Julia HB has that effect on me too. I didn't see her last week, but her usual schtick is to talk about how she is a 'feminist with a capital F', then start ranting about how women need to keep their legs closed/put up with a bit of groping/not lead men on/ stop moaning about sexism. She's poisonous

YY to JHB, LBC is dreadful when she comes on.

Drudge, I do think his views are old fashioned and linked to his being of an older generation. That doesn't mean I think all older people share them or haven't moved on at all. His whole vocabulary was very outdated on the subject

That about sums it up Lotta! She was basically a one woman Ched Evans' Supporters Club.

Nerf, shes not on LBC any more - happy days!

Sticking up for Ched Evans? She's a fucking disgrace.

Why does JHB get loud applause on Question Time no hen she's disliked by so many on here?

I think since Starkey has lost his gig with Channel 4 being an offensive twat on QT is his main hope of keeping a media profile going.

The QT audience is always teeming with conservative types who love to clap and cheer the likes of Julia and David.

Question Time was boring this week. The real drama was on This Week when Michael Portillo, Diane Abbott, and a lady comedian had a big fallout with a guest French journalist. It's on YouTube

Lotta, when did that happen? I'm sure I was listening to her recently!

Not this week. The audience seemed to love Mehdi, even after he emitted that he called non-Muslims 'cattle'.

I remember her talking about cud evans - she kept saying she'd read all about it and based her opinions on what she'd read, but clearly hadnt.

Oh I heard about the This Week incident. Must go look at that.

really Squoosh? I always consider the QT audience to be very left wing.

Nerf, since Christmas. Shelagh Fogarty is doing the afternoon slot now - she's quite dull but much better for the blood pressure!

Oh thanks Lotta, thought she was standing in. Now if we could just lose Ian dale and james o'brien..

I love James O'Brian - he's a pompous tosser but brilliantly entertaining. Apart from Mystery Hour, which is just wrong

I quite like Iain Dale but he can be a bit tedious

We need a separate LBC thread!

We do, I get those two mixed up actually. I hate the way they just cut callers off and talk over them. I love NF though, he's funny and self deprecating and actually quite respectful to callers. PH is okay too.

WetAugust, agree. Portillo was almost apoplectic. Worth seeing.

I like James Obrien although his smugness can be a bit much at times, also like Nick Abbot.

Starkey I have always found utterly abhorrent, unbearably superior