A BBC presenter has apologised after wrongly quoting Nigel Farage, claiming the Reform UK leader had urged for “white cold rage” in response to the murder of teenager Henry Nowak.
Farage had in fact called for “pure, cold rage” in an online address about the killing of the 18-year-old in Southampton.
Nowak’s killer, 23-year-old Vickrum Digwa, told police attending the scene of the stabbing in Southampton on December 3 2025 that he had been the victim of a racist attack.
During an interview with Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch on Tuesday night’s edition of BBC Two’s Newsnight, Chorley used the phrase “white cold rage” three times while questioning her about Farage’s comments and Reform’s rhetoric.
The Reform UK leader previously said Nowak was “treated in a way that meant an accusation of a racial slur was treated more seriously than an act of murder”, adding that people should react with “pure cold rage”.
Reform argued that inserting the word “white” added a racial dimension that was not present in Farage’s original remarks and altered their meaning.
The party’s legal letter to the BBC said Chorley’s wording “converts a criticism of discriminatory conduct by the authorities into an apparent appeal to race”.
On Wednesday, Chorley posted a statement on Twitter/X acknowledging the mistake and apologising to Farage.
“I owe Nigel Farage an apology,” he wrote.
“During last night’s Newsnight, we covered the murder of Henry Nowak and the political reaction to the case, including discussing Nigel Farage’s comments about ‘pure, cold rage’. However I referred to ‘white cold rage’.
"This was a mistake on my part, a misremembering of the quote. It didn’t change the content of the interview but I should have got the quote right. I apologise to Nigel Farage for this.”
The BBC has also apologised directly to Farage and issued a correction on its Corrections and Clarifications page, saying he had been quoted “mistakenly”.
The Newsnight episode has been removed from BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds, and the corporation has said an on‑air apology will be broadcast on Wednesday night’s programme.
Farage said his legal team had written to the BBC “demanding a full on-air apology and investigation into the defamatory comments made about me on Newsnight”, adding: “Enough is enough.”
The handling of the case by Hampshire Police has prompted national anger with many arguing that Farage has "stoked" the anger. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said Farage “almost seems to enjoy” the violence after attacks by protesters on police during protests in Southampton on Tuesday night.
An estimated 11 police officers and a police dog were injured during the clash.
Two people were arrested for assaulting police and possession of a weapon after hundreds gathered outside Southampton Central Police Station where Tommy Robinson – real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon – and actor and campaigner Laurence Fox were among those who spoke to the crowd.
Hampshire Police said the number of arrests would increase as investigations continue into the disorder.
Chorley, who joined the BBC from Times Radio in 2024 to present a weekday show on Radio 5 Live, also became a Newsnight presenter last year.
