Nigel Farage challenges 'liberally biased' comedians to 'call him a narcissist', then asks 'Am I a modern Hitler or a modern Churchill?'

Ukip leader defends Andrew Lawrence’s criticism of BBC panel shows and has another dig at Frankie Boyle

This probably wasn't the Q&A that Nigel Farage wanted

Nigel Farage has launched a scathing attack on the “liberally biased” BBC and its comedy panel shows following his clash with Frankie Boyle on Twitter earlier this week.

The politician defended right-wing comedian Andrew Lawrence, who received a torrent of abuse – and a stern word from Dara Ó Briain – after he criticised the “ageing, balding, fat men, ethnic comedians and women-posing-as-comedians” of Mock The Week for making “cheap” jokes at the expense of the party.

It culminated in a spectacular clash between Farage and Boyle on Tuesday evening, during which the Ukip leader praised Lawrence’s “honesty”.

“There are a lot of honest people in comedy, which is why they keep calling you a c**t,” Boyle retorted.

Writing in his column for The Independent Farage now accuses Boyle of trying to “resurrect his own career off the back of Mr Lawrence’s comments” and condemned the reactions to the Lawrence’s initial Facebook post as simply that of the “liberal elite” who misunderstand Ukip and its policies.

Comedian Andrew Lawrence

“Call me a narcissist, but I love saving jocular ’toons and caricatures about myself or Ukip – even when they’re not flattering,” he added. “But sometimes these guys just get lazy, don’t they?

“The Times last week published a cartoon of me in an embrace with Adolf Hitler last week. Not only is that not funny, it is downright farcical.

“One week I’m Hitler’s buddy, then next week the Tower of London’s Poppy Memorial is hailed as “Ukip-style” attraction in The Guardian. Well – which is it? Am I pro-freedom, or anti-freedom? Am I a modern Hitler or a modern Churchill?”

Frankie Boyle takes his panel show place

“The great comedians who they all grew up watching: George Carlin, Richard Pryor, Rik Mayall, and Joan Rivers would all have been a touch more interesting, and were always a lot less predictable than this lot are,” he concludes.

“With the power of social media, and the decline of mainstream monopolies, the relentless bores are going to find it much harder to stay relevant, or even solvent.”