JUNIOR doctors striking and renewable energy were just two of the topics debated by a panel at a live broadcast of a BBC radio show from a Basingstoke school.

Presenter Jonathan Dimbleby was joined by four guests at The Costello School, where an audience watched the live recording of BBC Radio 4’s Any Questions? on Friday, November 13.

Members of the audience were pre-selected to ask questions on air to the panel made up of Arron Banks, a businessman and political donor, Lord Charles Falconer, a former cabinet minister who is currently shadow lord chancellor and justice secretary, John Nicolson, the Scottish National Party MP for East Dunbartonshire, and Amber Rudd, the MP for Hastings and Rye and the secretary of state for energy and climate change.

Leigh Adams, headteacher of The Costello School, in Crossborough Hill, welcomed guests, saying: “We are immensely proud to be hosting Any Questions?

The audience were then warmed up by Dennis Nolan, head of station management at BBC Radio 4, who said: “We regard Any Questions? not just being a jewel in the crown of the Radio 4 show but also part of the democratic life of this country.”

He encouraged the audience to participate and interact with the panel during the show.

At 8pm it was time for the live broadcast to begin, and Mr Dimbleby introduced Basingstoke as a “thriving town”.

The first question referring to the use of drones to kill in self-defence sparked an interesting debate, following the news that 'Jihadi John' was killed by a drone missile strike.

Mr Nicolson suggested that the victims families would have wanted to see him on trial, but Lord Falconer added: “I think it was the right result, I think justice was done.”

The audience members made their views known during a discussion on whether junior doctors are right to consider strike action.

Ms Rudd said the current pay system incentivised junior doctors to work long hours because they are paid overtime, but her comment was met with jeers from the audience.

Mr Banks said: “I think they are trying to fund a seven-day-a-week health service with five-days-a-week funding.”

Following the show, Tracey Stratton, business manager at Costello, who organised the event, said: "The challenging questions on the night made for a good discussion and a great show.”

It is not the first time BBC Radio 4 Any Questions? has broadcast from Basingstoke - in 1976 it visited the town when anti-immigration Conservative MP Enoch Powell was on the panel.

For the only time in the history of the programme, the show was temporarily taken off air during the live broadcast because anti-fascist demonstrators threw stones and smashed the windows of the United Reformed Church, at the Top of The Town, in London Street.