BBC forced to apologise as protest disrupts BBC election debate between Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer

The BBC has had to apologise as a protest has disrupted its head-to-head election debate between Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.

The debate, being broadcast live from the Newton Building at Nottingham Trent University, is being disrupted by a loud protest outside. There is heckling outside and loud bangs, both of which have clearly put off the two speakers. It also meant they had to check details with audience members sat just metres away from their podiums.

Partway through the 75-minute debate, host Mishal Husain told the audience there was a protest outside. She said: "If you can hear any noises ladies and gentlemen, or anyone at home, there is a protest taking place outside which is also an aspect of our democracy and people exercising their freedom of speech.

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There is a protest by Nottingham Solidarity Group, who say on X, formerly Twitter, they are "students from the Notts community supporting class & education struggles!" For the latest politics news in Wales sign up to our newsletter here.

They posted:

@mds49 wrote on X: "BBC leaders’ debate being totally ruined by protest noise." @Ross_in_Orkney added: "So difficult watching this leader’s debate with the noise outside the building they’re recording it in. Can they not put some low level background music on."