POLITICIANS, public figures and an academic descended on Ipswich as Question Time rolled into town last night.

Politicians, public figures and an academic descended on Ipswich as Question Time rolled into town last night.

The town was a hub of activity for the televised debate, with more than 100 people venturing to the DanceEast Jerwood DanceHouse, based in the heart of the town’s Waterfront, for the popular BBC One show.

The current affairs programme, hosted by David Dimbleby, featured a panel which included work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith, shadow home secretary Alan Johnson, columnist Simon Heffer, Cambridge University professor Mary Beard and social entrepreneur Dame Camila Batmanghelidjh.

The show concentrated on a range of issues including immigration, unemployment and public spending cuts.

The hour-long programme was recorded in front of a live studio audience yesterday evening before being broadcast on BBC One.

Colchester letting agent Russell Caines, 36, was in the audience and said he had been “immensely excited” to be a part of the show.

“I wanted them to answer questions on the housing market and misuse of public funds,” he said.

“We need to know who is accountable for these things.”

Each audience member submitted a question for the panel upon entering the studio, which was based in the dance studio’s theatre space.

Shelly Littlejohn, from Ipswich, had wanted to ask the panel about the scrapping of an extended free school meals programme - but didn’t get the chance to pose her question.

But she said: “I love Question Time.

“Working as a tutor andwith youth offenders, I think that it is such an important programme which has great influence.”