Bizarre moment reality TV star pops up on Question Time to ask about Vladimir Putin

By Milo Pope 12:42 06 Jul 2024, updated 14:39 06 Jul 2024

This is the moment a reality TV star appears on Question Time to ask Labour's Cabinet Secretary whether his party were concealing secrets about Vladimir Putin.

Host Fiona Bruce was joined by the likes of Environment secretary Steve Reed MP, Conservative Peer Lord Finkelstein, Daisy Cooper MP and journalist Andrew Marr on last night's show.

The panel were discussing Britain's new political structure following the general election which saw Keir Starmer become the nation's new Prime Minister. 

Following Mr Reed's opening remarks, Ms Bruce went to the crowd for their questions.

After referring to the reality star as 'the woman in the green top', a former X-Factor contestant then quizzed Labour's cabinet secretary on Putin's Russia.

The reality TV star in question was actually Katie Waissel, who came into the public eye when she was the tenth contestant eliminated in the seventh series of The X Factor.

She is also known for being a housemate in Celebrity Big Brother, where she finished in eighth place.

When the microphone reached her in the audience, Waissel asked Steve Reed MP: 'In your opening words you mentioned about Vladimir Putin and so I wanted to just ask if the Labour party was privy to any information that the United Kingdom may not be.

'I'm just curious as to why you would mention that and should we be privy to this information.'

Mr Reed replied: 'The reason was because it was Vladimir Putin's illegal invasion of Ukraine that caused such a problem with the supply of fossil fuels to the UK because of the sanctions that were put on Russia following that.

'If we control our own energy in this country - wind wave, solar and nuclear - we don't have to import fossil fuels from elsewhere, we control our own energy then the actions of foreign dictators like Putin don't affect us. 

'It keeps us safer and keeps us more secure but it cuts energy bills as well because clean energy is cheaper than fossil energy.'

People across social media were shocked to see the singer-songwriter on the programme, with one person writing: 'Not Fiona Bruce addressing Katie Waissel as "woman in the green top".'

Another commented: 'Watching Question Time and pretty sure the X-Factor’s Katie Waissel has just asked a question about Labour being privy to info about Putin that the public isn’t …? Bit odd.'

A third wrote: 'X Factor’s Katie Waissel just asked a question on #BBCQT???'

A fourth also said: 'Well, I didn't have Katie Waissel on my election 2024 bingo card #bbcqt.'

Last year, Waissel spoke out about X-Factor, saying: 'the show ruined my life'.

Throughout the course of the singing competition, Waissel said she received acid attack and death threats, and suffered both panic attacks and suicidal thoughts.

Speaking to the Times, Waissel said she has since sought therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder following her time on the show.

She also retrained as a lawyer before announcing that she was trying to sue Simon Cowell's Syco for 'breaching its duty of care'.

She also founded the OWHL Foundation to help others who have experienced a similar situation to her. On its website, the foundation says it aims to 'oversee the welfare, human rights and liberty within the creative industry sector'. 

Earlier this year, Waissel revealed that eight household names have been victims of sexual abuse and harassment in the showbiz industry.

'There is an abuse of power and intimidation tactics are being used,' she told The Sun.

'There are so many people who aren't even speaking out because they are absolutely petrified about losing job opportunities.'

Of those who have told her of their trauma, one celebrity was taken advantage of after being 'plied with booze' at star-studded secret parties.

Another was reportedly 'lured' into a hotel room by a senior music industry worker 'who then abused their position of power' while a third 'performed sexual acts on a director to advance their career'.