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Theresa May has demanded an explanation from BBC chiefs for broadcasting a programme in which comedian Jo Brand joked about throwing battery acid on politicians.

The comedian, 61, was appearing on Victoria Coren Mitchell’s Heresy on Tuesday night when she made the deeply controversial remark.

In reply to a question about the state of UK politics, and with Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage having recently had a milkshake thrown over him, she stressed that “certain unpleasant characters are being thrown to the fore”.

She added: “They’re very, very easy to hate and I’m kind of thinking: ‘Why bother with a milkshake when you could get some battery acid?

“That’s just me. I’m not going to do it, it’s purely a fantasy, but I think milkshakes are pathetic, I honestly do, sorry.”

Brand made clear it was a joke but broadcasting watchdog Ofcom has received 19 complaints about the show.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said today: “The Prime Minister has been repeatedly clear that politicians should be able to go about their work and campaign without harassment, intimidation or abuse.”

He highlighted Brendan Cox, whose MP wife Jo was murdered by a Far Right extremist in 2016, as warning that violence and intimidation should not be normalised and that a consistent stand was needed against it.

“The Prime Minster shares this view. It’s for the BBC to explain why it considers this to have been appropriate content for broadcast,” he added.

Mr Farage accused Brand of inciting violence following the comments she made during the BBC Radio 4 show and urged the police to act.

Last month he was covered in milkshake during a campaign walkabout in Newcastle city centre.

The trend of throwing milkshakes at right-wing politicians began when viral footage showed Tommy Robinson having one thrown over him in Warrington.

Since then, several other members of the public have attempted to repeat the unusual protest.

At the end of show, Coren Mitchell said she hoped Brand’s remarks had not caused offence but added that the radio series had been set up to “test the boundaries of what it’s OK to say and not say”.

The quiz host and television personality, 46, later responded to Mr Farage on Twitter, accusing him of double standards.

She wrote: “Nigel! I’m genuinely disappointed; we don’t agree on everything, but I would totally have had you down as a free speech man. Especially when it comes to jokes.”

A BBC spokeswoman said: “Heresy is a long-running comedy programme where, as the title implies and as our listeners know, panellists often say things which are deliberately provocative and go against societal norms but are not intended to be taken seriously.”