...for the eight million people who are thought to have watched the BBC's Question Time on Thursday night. Not quite a Strictly Come Dancing or X Factor audience but a defiance of apathy for a political broadcast at 10.30pm. It might be argued that they were hoping for a punch-up between Nick Griffin, the BNP leader, and one of the mainstream personalities on the programme -- and Bonny Greer did admit afterwards that she had felt like slapping him for what he said about the Ku Klux Klan -- but it is more likely that they simply wanted to hear at first hand what Mr Griffin had to say for himself instead of relying on media reports of his often provocative views on immigration and race. In the event he said enough to reveal how narrow and shallow his thinking is.
A cheer might be saved for the studio audience which kept its anger at some of Mr Griffin's remarks within reasonable limits and also contributed questions and comments that were notable both for their brevity and impact -- a contrast with the frequently prolix contributions of the politicians on the panel.