BBC's premiere political programme Question Time was hosted in Leeds on Thursday, with a bumper panel grilled by a passionate audience.
Presenter Fiona Bruce was joined at Leeds Grammar School by Jake Berry MP, chair of the Northern Research Group of Conservative MPs, and Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham.
Frances O'Grady, general secretary of the British Trades Union Congress, Jurgen Maier, vice-chair of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership and GB News journalist Inaya Folarin Iman rounded off the five-person panel.
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However, several people watching at home were perplexed by the lack of Covid-19 safety measures in place.
The perspex screens which have separated panellists on many previous episodes were removed for the filming in Leeds.
There were small spaces left between people in the audience, but no one in the school's grand assembly hall appeared to be wearing a mask.
Although such measures are no longer required by law, many people on Twitter were confused by the decision.
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@vickyblack said: "So has Covid now gone #bbcqt? No distancing, no masks and no perspex screens between the panel."
@lizzieslists added: "Disappointing to see #bbcqt adopting the Government position that Covid has suddenly disappeared."
@Melonhead999: "Still over 150 people a day dying from Covid #bbcqt, why remove safety measures?"
And @tmoraitauthor said: "Interesting: no masks and no plastic screens on #bbcqt. Covid's gone now, then, or was it a dream?"
Among the topics up for discussion during the hour-long programme were Prince Andrew's ongoing role within the Royal Family and the government's Levelling Up agenda.
A man from York kicked proceedings off by asking: "Is it now time for the 'grand old' Duke of York to march back down the hill and return his title to Her Majesty the Queen?".
Ms O'Grady said Prince Andrew should talk openly to the FBI, while Mr Maier said: "It’s been a horrible saga."
But the most forthright opinion came from a fellow audience member, who piped up to say: "He was supposed to be an officer and a gentleman. He was no officer and he's certainly no gentleman. As such he should fall on his sword."
Mr Berry and Mr Burnham then became embroiled in a war of words over the government's Levelling Up policy - much of which focussed on Leeds' transport system.
One woman in the audience said: "Leeds has the worst transport system in the country. We’ve been waiting for a tram for 30 years."
There were questions too about the government making a U-turn on bringing HS2 to Leeds - a decision described as a "body blow" by one audience member.
Mr Burnham added: "A new railway line from Leeds to Manchester. That was the promise made [by Boris Johnson] infront of Stephenson’s Rocket four days into office.
"What have we got? Half a line that misses out Bradford completely. A proud, young city like Bradford completely cut off the network.
"They [the Conservative government] have raised expectations. They came here for people's votes. And they said we’re going to level you up with the south. We’re going to close the north-south divide.
"The trouble is the reality is not matching the rhetoric and the truth of the matter is, the north-south divide has got wider in this pandemic."
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Mr Berry responded by saying: "It's an ambition to change the economy of the north of England, to reindustrialise the north with good, high-quality jobs and also it will be the people of the north who level up the north."
The panel were also quizzed for their thoughts on the Ukraine-Russia crisis and the Post Office scandal, but one man in particular grabbed the attention of viewers watching on TV.
Fiona Bruce twice asked for questions from a man with "jazzy green glasses" and Twitter reacted by saying he looked like The Riddler.
@bottomike posted a picture of the man alongside the caption: "Taking a break from chasing down Sonic the Hedgehog #bbcqt".
@F4RUC said: "How has #Batman’s arch nemesis #TheRiddler made it onto #bbcqt??".
He was also described as a "style icon" and a man who looked as though he was "from 2047".
@JCaramac said: "This is what they said the future would look like #bbcqt".
Question Time airs weekly on Thursday nights on BBC One. The programme tours the country, but the February 17 episode was the first time it had been hosted in Leeds for more than two years.
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