Trolls have taken to social media to target a Question Time audience member with transphobic slurs.

The show was broadcast from Stoke on Trent on Thursday night, as a by-election took place in the constituency.

But as an audience member asked a question on the show, dozens took to Twitter, referring to them as “tranny”, “trannie”, and making observations about their weight.

The BBC was also accused of planting the audience member by some on Twitter, suggesting they were invited onto the show to give an “anti-UKIP” viewpoint.

Dozens took to Twitter to make transphobic comments about the audience member.

One wrote: “Brilliant trannie on [Question Time] tonight…”

While other nastier comments, calling them a “fat tranny”, and saying “the fat tranny has stolen the show” were posted by other users.

Another user even said: “What the fuck is that purple tranny fuck?”

Apparently any valid argument the audience member had was drowned out by the number of people who took to Twitter to simply comment on their perceived gender identity and weight.