Westminster’s corridors are crackling with fury as Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has unleashed a blistering tirade against the BBC, vowing to boycott the broadcaster until it apologizes for what he calls “astonishing double standards and hypocrisy” in its coverage of racism allegations against him. The explosive confrontation unfolded during a chaotic press conference in London on December 4, 2025, where Farage—faced with questions about his alleged teenage racist and antisemitic remarks at Dulwich College—turned the tables on the corporation, accusing it of selective outrage. “I’m done with you,” Farage declared to a BBC reporter, refusing to answer further and demanding an apology for the BBC’s own “racist” output from the 1970s and 1980s. The outburst, which saw him repeatedly shouting “Bernard Manning!” at journalists, has ignited a firestorm online, with #BBCBias exploding to over 500,000 posts and fans warning the broadcaster is “reaching a breaking point” unless it addresses the perceived favoritism.

The row erupted amid escalating scrutiny of Farage’s schooldays, with The Guardian reporting 28 contemporaries recalling his “racist and antisemitic” behavior, including mocking Jewish classmates and using slurs. Farage, 61, has denied malice but lost his cool when pressed by BBC’s Damian Grammaticas, launching into a pre-rehearsed rant about the broadcaster’s past sins. “At the time I was alleged to have made these remarks, one of your most popular weekly shows was the Black and White Minstrel Show,” he bellowed, citing 1970s staples like It Ain’t Half Hot Mum and Are You Being Served? as “racist, sexist, and homophobic” by today’s standards. “The double standards and hypocrisy of the BBC are absolutely astonishing,” Farage fumed, insisting his “politically dubious recollections from nearly half a century ago” pale compared to the corporation’s archived output. He read a letter from Dulwich alumni defending him—”Nigel stood out, but was neither aggressive nor a racist”—and claimed “plenty” more support, though only half a dozen surfaced.

The boycott threat marks a new low in Farage’s long-simmering feud with the BBC, which he has accused of “despicable” bias since his 2016 Brexit triumph. Reform deputy Richard Tice had already branded the allegations “made-up twaddle” on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, prompting host Emma Barnett to link Farage to Hitler in a viral clip that drew 200,000 complaints. Farage called Barnett a “lower-grade presenter” and the framing “beyond belief,” escalating the war. “I cannot put up with the double standards about what I’m alleged to have said 49 years ago and what you were putting out on mainstream content,” he roared, refusing questions from the BBC’s Damian Grammaticas until an apology. ITV fared no better, with Farage shouting Bernard Manning’s name—a controversial 1970s comedian known for racist jokes—at a reporter.

Social media is a battlefield. #BBCBoycott trended with 300k posts, supporters cheering: “Nigel’s calling out the hypocrisy—about time!” (@ReformRiser, 40k likes). Critics slammed it as “deflection”: “Dodging racism claims by yelling at the BBC? Pathetic” (@ProgressiveUK, 30k retweets). Labour chair Anna Turley fired back: “Instead of demanding apologies, Nigel should apologize to the victims of his alleged appalling remarks.” Conservatives piled on: “Reform’s one-man band is in chaos again.” Even Elon Musk chimed in on X: “Double standards indeed—BBC needs a reset.”

The clash underscores the BBC’s impartiality crisis, with 2025’s bias rows—from Reform’s underrepresentation on Question Time to trans coverage probes—eroding trust (45% approval per Reuters). Ofcom is reviewing complaints, but insiders predict no action: “Farage’s the lightning rod—BBC’s just the tree.” As Reform polls at 22%, Farage’s boycott could amplify his outsider appeal, but at what cost to public discourse? “Enough is enough,” he concluded, storming out. For a broadcaster funded by the license fee, the reckoning feels overdue. Will the BBC bend, or will Farage’s fury forge a new front in the culture wars? The chamber’s frozen, but the debate’s just thawing.