The BBC has appointed a representative of white men to its diversity and inclusion panel for the first time.

Geoff Norcott has been described as Britain's only openly Conservative comedian, a Leave voter who jokes about his Right-wing views as part of his routine.

The BBC said it had chosen Norcott to represent social mobility as he is from a white working class background. He has said he does not identify with the "middle class metropolitan types" who vote Labour.

The other members of the Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Group represent the black, Asian and minority ethnic, LGBT and youth communities, in a group set up to monitor the BBC’s output and ensure it serves all sections of society.

Norcott's appointment comes amid repeated criticism of the BBC for what some viewers believe is a Left-wing slant to its comedy. He shares that view, writing in the Telegraph in 2017: “It is a problem that, across our major TV channels, the comedy world’s commentary on Brexit remains almost exclusively opposed to it.

“It must seem odd to the comedy-watching public that a 50:50 vote in the country has seemingly played out one way on the small screen. Like you woke up one day in a world where no-one liked Marmite.”