Noise, generating noise. It’s ambitions are no higher than something like the Jeremy Kyle show. A bottom feeding wind up that polarises the audience instead of informing and holding power to account.
They are no doubt delighted when it kicks off and generates outraged comments. All helps the viewing figures.
It’s a sly, underhand way of providing nominally informed debate regarding issues, irresponsible as it operates under the pretence that it’s audience is deeply interested in politics and will have looked at issues in depth from other sources. Irresponsible as it refuses to acknowledge that it may be the only way some, if not most people engage in politics.
Thus a populist like Farage can spout lies (I remember an audience member calling him out on this on one occasion) and they are given an opportunity to make claims that have no evidence to support them.
It is going to be interesting to see how they provide balance on climate change, something they are focusing on. Will counter arguments be backed by evidence, or just someone pandering to the ignorance of the audience?
u/Farnellagogo