The new mood of Question Time audiences reflects the changing Brexit debate

Earthquakes in public opinion do not happen often, and when they do they can catch commentators unawares. But if you want to see one in motion you should go back and watch the last two editions of Question Time. Until recently, the BBC show could be relied upon to have a loud contingent of groaning audience members capable of drowning out the ‘gammon’ tendency. The programme even managed to find a broadly pro-Remain audience in Clacton, the one and only seat which Ukip ever managed to win at a general election.

But no longer. The arrival of Fiona Bruce has coincided with a sharp change in audience tone. When, last week, there were cheers for Isabel Oakeshott when she opposed any kind of delay to Brexit, I put it down to the programme coming from Derby, a working class industrial town which voted 57 per cent in favour of Leave in 2016.