The BBC has admitted in private ­correspondence in the wake of the ­ Dianne Abbott row that Question Time presenter Fiona Bruce did make ­light-hearted personal comments.

The Mirror understands an email from show editors to the Shadow Home Secretary confirms Bruce made what she believed were good-humoured remarks during the warm-up.

Audience members had claimed the joke centred on Ms Abbott’s ­relationship with Jeremy Corbyn in the 1970s, implying her role was as a result of their closeness.

The BBC branded reports about the warm-up “inaccurate”, adding: “We firmly reject claims any of the panel were treated unfairly.”

A spokesman for the Labour MP said: “If they’ve nothing to hide, tell us what was said.”

(Image: BBC)

The BBC had previously refused to confirm or deny whether Ms Bruce had made a joke at the Labour frontbencher’s expense.

The new host has been embroiled in a row with the Labour Party since her second outing on the flagship show, which she took over presenting earlier this month.

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Last week she made an on-air clarification about polling after she suggested that the Conservatives were ahead in the polls, even though several put Labour ahead.

But Labour had also made an official complaint for remarks allegedly made by her to the studio audience before the cameras started broadcasting.