Former UKIP leader Nigel Farage today hit out at the BBC following a fiery clash with Andrew Marr over the weekend.
Speaking for the first time since Sunday’s controversial interview, which Mr Farage called the “most ridiculous interview” of his life, the MEP explained why he was so angry.
The Brexit Party leader had lashed out at Mr Marr after he was quizzed on some of his controversial statements in the past.
Mr Farage on Monday said the interview with Mr Marr followed a “bizarre and ludicrous line of questioning”.
Speaking to LBC, Mr Farage said: "We are essentially taxed on the BBC. £150 a year goes to the BBC, the licence fee. People like Andrew Marr get £400-grand a year from these people's money.
"You've got a brand new political movement that's come from nothing and is leading the polls. I would have thought on the first big interview on TV, it might be interesting to find out how and why that has happened, who the candidates were.
"I'm more than prepared to accept every criticism of people we've got, of disputes that may occur in the future between people on the left or the right. All of that would have been fair game.
"To come up with a series of half-quotes from things that I said up to 10 years ago that have no direct relevance to what's happening next Thursday... we have a national election next Thursday and they refused to talk about it. That's my complaint.
"I have never before in 20 years in politics taken the attitude that I took yesterday, not once. It was bizarre that that ludicrous line of questioning persisted all the way though.”
Sunday’s interview saw Mr Farage probed about his comments he made about the NHS, climate change and foreigners.
Mr Marr argued that Mr Farage should be scrutinised because he is an “important figure” who is “trying to lead an insurgent party to try and replace the main parties”.
He asked: “Do you still want to replace the NHS with a private insurance system?”
Mr Farage replied: “I never did, I would like to take the burden off the NHS.”
But Mr Farage quickly added that the interview was “boring” and questioned why they weren’t talking about the “sea change” currently occurring in British politics.
Despite this Mr Marr continued his line of questioning and brought up a series of other past remarks made by Mr Farage.
Mr Farage said: "What is wrong with the BBC? You’re just not interested aren’t you?"
"This is absolutely ludicrous. I’ve never in my life seen a more ridiculous interview than this," he said.