The BBC like Farage because he does good television on programmes like Question Time which is usually an hour of rehearsed soundbites from a small collection of politicians who are on week after week after bloody week. The same applies to George Galloway and rabble rousers like Melanie Phillips - they can be sure of an audience reaction and getting the BBC trending on Twitter.
That it utterly distorts the political process, that they shamelessly broadcast lies which the host is unwilling or unable to combat is immaterial - it’s all about being seen to be relevant. And that’s why they never bother putting a scientist on even in weeks when a science story will be in the headlines; having someone who wants to talk about both sides of the issue and who won’t be tied down to an absolute yes or no - bad television. Having a know-nothing demagogue - ratings gold.
