Nigel Farage says he's 'sick to death of overpaid, left-wing, so-called comedians on BBC' in scathing attack after Jo Brand 'acid attack' gag

BREXIT Party leader Nigel Farage has claimed he would have faced police action if he'd joked about throwing acid at political opponents as the backlash over Jo Brand's comments on a BBC radio show grow.

Brand, 61, sparked outrage on BBC Radio 4's Heresy programme after saying a string of milkshake attacks on politicians such as Nigel Farage should have been carried out with acid.

The BBC has refused to apologise for broadcasting the outrageous remark, saying the comedy programme 'is not meant to be taken seriously'.

But speaking on LBC, Farage said he is 'sick to death of overpaid, left-wing, so-called comedians on the BBC' getting away with 'disgusting' remarks because their views are seen as 'morally superior'.

He said: "I am sick to death of overpaid, left wing, so-called comedians on the BBC who think their view is morally superior.

"Can you imagine the reaction if I had said the same thing as Jo Brand?

"I think we know fairly clearly who Jo Brand was aiming that comment at.

"A lot of people, like Jo Brand, think the referendum is a terrible mistake.

They have a view that is morally superior to everybody else's and therefore it seems, that anything can be used in defence of their arguments

"They have a view that is morally superior to everybody else's and therefore it seems, that anything can be used in defence of their arguments.

"Frankly I think this sort of behaviour is completely and utterly disgusting.

"Can you imagine if I was to tell a story like that, about somebody on the other side of me, an Anna Soubry or someone like that?

"I reckon the police would knock on my door within ten minutes. I think it's appalling."

BBC REFUSES TO APOLOGISE

Brand, 61, told Radio 4 show Heresy that yobs who attacked Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage with milkshakes were “pathetic”, adding: “Why bother with a milkshake when you could get some battery acid?”

She told the audience: “Certain unpleasant characters are being thrown to the fore and they’re very, very easy to hate.

“And I’m kind of thinking, why bother with a milkshake when you could get some battery acid?”

As the audience laughed she added: “That’s just me. I’m not going to do it, it’s purely a fantasy. But I think milkshakes are pathetic, I honestly do.”

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Theresa May has said BBC should explain why it broadcast the comments.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "The Prime Minister has been repeatedly clear that politicians should be able to go about their work and campaign without harassment, intimidation or abuse.

"I note that Brendan Cox has said that violence and intimidation should not be normalised and we should consistently stand against it. The Prime Minister shares this view.

"It is for the BBC to explain why it considers this to have been appropriate content for broadcast."

A BBC spokeswoman said: "Heresy is a long-running comedy programme where, as the title implies and as our listeners know, panellists often say things which are deliberately provocative but are not intended to be taken seriously."

Brand has previously voiced her opposition to Brexit and backs a second referendum.

Speaking on Question Time in December, she said: "I would support a second referendum.

"I’m not 100 percent sure I can justify it. I just want it."

Farage had a banana and salted caramel Five Guys milkshake thrown on him while campaigning in Newcastle ahead of the EU elections last month.

Army veteran and Brexit Party supporter Don McNaughton, 81, had milkshake thrown over him at a polling station in Aldershot, Hants.

Jo Brand controversies

In 2009, the BBC Trust cleared her of two gags made on QI – including one where she claimed "Lady Thatcher" sounded like a hair removal device and another joking about incontinence.

Brand was accused of ageism and sexism later in the show when she asked: "Is there a facility for men to wet themselves when they cough? Does that ever happen to blokes? .. Do men wet themselves when they cough, when they get old? S*** themselves?"

Brand also annoyed Streatham locals in 2012 when she described the South London town as a "s**thole" and urged people not to go there.

Her comment on the BBC1 show Have I Got News For You angered officials, who said she had done “serious damage” to the town’s reputation.

In 2013, Brand and the BBC were slammed after she suggested Prince Harry takes cocaine while presenting Have I Got News For You.

During a discussion about the names of Prince George's new godparents, she said: "George's godparents include Hugh van Cutsem… I presume that's a nickname as in Hugh van cuts 'em and Harry then snorts 'em."

Brand defended the joke – claiming it was read from an autocue – and refused to apologise.

A Donald Trump supporter was also doused in milkshake and had "Nazi scum" screamed in his face in London last week.

But despite broadcasting watchdog Ofcom confirming it had received 19 complaints since the show aired on Tuesday, the BBC refused to condemn the remarks.

A spokeswoman said: "Heresy is a long-running comedy programme where, as the title implies and as our listeners know, panellists often say things which are deliberately provocative but are not intended to be taken seriously."

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