Question Time viewers go wild for ‘Woman in the Yellow Jacket’

Diana Good, 62, has attracted widespread acclaim for her criticism of the Prime Minister

A Question Time audience member dubbed ‘The Woman in the Yellow Jacket’ who was praised for a forceful speech on the BBC programme has been identified as a former crown court judge.

Diana Good, 62, who was given the moniker by new host Fiona Bruce as she pointed her out, attracted widespread acclaim for her criticism of the Prime Minister, asking the panel: ‘Could we get over feeling sorry for Theresa May?’

Now, MailOnline can reveal Ms Good is a former litigation and investigations lawyer who is now an advisor on the Government’s International Development Committee.

Ms Good was a lawyer with Linklaters LLP for 30 years until she retired as a senior partner, and is now also an advisor to the Campaign for Female Education in Africa.

She also worked as a part-time judge in crown courts across London for the Ministry of Justice, hearing criminal cases for 11 years between 2000 and 2011.

Her speech last night received rapturous applause and viewers praised her ‘eloquent and succinct’ words – and the ‘best ever comments by an audience member’.

Her daughter Frances Good posted a picture of her on the show on Facebook, saying: ‘When your mum goes viral on Twitter due to being epic on Question Time!

‘Let’s get her in power! Haha… when you play board games with her you’ll realise she ain’t worth messing with, haha.’

Ms Good, who was at the back of the audience yesterday in Islington, North London, began: ‘Two things. Firstly, could we get over feeling sorry for Theresa May?

Bruce, who has taken over from David Dimbleby to host the programme, then interrupted her, saying: ‘Hang on, hang on – do you never feel sorry for her?’

'The Woman in the Yellow Jacket' was applauded by fellow Question Time audience members

‘The Woman in the Yellow Jacket’ was applauded by fellow Question Time audience members

Ms Good delivered a forceful 80-second speech which criticised the Prime Minister last night

Ms Good delivered a forceful 80-second speech which criticised the Prime Minister last night

Ms Good, who was at the back of the audience yesterday in Islington, North London, began: ‘Two things. Firstly, could we get over feeling sorry for Theresa May?

Bruce, who has taken over from David Dimbleby to host the programme, then interrupted her, saying: ‘Hang on, hang on – do you never feel sorry for her?’

And Ms Good replied: ‘No, I don’t feel sorry for her. She is the woman who for many, many years has led the hostile environment for migrants in this country – which resulted in the Windrush generation, it’s a disgrace.

‘She’s the person who created her very specific red lines on immigration in the ECJ which have created the negotiation mess that we’re in. She triggered Article 50 when she had no plan.

Fiona Bruce was hosting her first Question Time after taking over the role from David Dimbleby

Fiona Bruce was hosting her first Question Time after taking over the role from David Dimbleby

Ms Good's daughter Frances Good posted a picture of her on the show on Facebook, saying: 'When your mum goes viral on Twitter due to being epic on Question Time!'

Ms Good’s daughter Frances Good posted a picture of her on the show on Facebook, saying: ‘When your mum goes viral on Twitter due to being epic on Question Time!’

‘And as to criticising the EU on this, there are 27 other countries in the EU. They have been completely united on this. We do not even have a cabinet who can unite, and definitely a government that isn’t in control of the process.

‘They are a body of rules and regulations and they are not going to break that when it’s the most successful single market in the world, and all round the world people want to do deals with the EU.

‘We are going to lose all of that, and it is ridiculous for us with our hopeless government who cannot get it together, to actually work out what the will of the people is today in 2019 to blame the EU and to go around feeling sorry for Theresa May. I’m sorry.’

Ms Good’s speech was tweeted by the official Question Time account, and had received 12,000 likes along with more than 4,000 retweets by 8.30am today.

Among those praising it was University of Oxford politics lecturer Jennifer Cassidy, who tweeted: ‘We will all remember where her were when Fiona Bruce pointed to the audience and said: ‘Yes, the woman in the yellow jacket.’

‘Yellow jacket woman made more progress, offering more insights in 90 seconds, then Theresa May has done in 31 months.’

Clare Wigley said: ‘This lady said eloquently and succinctly what many of us are feeling. The audience tonight very well represent the views of the people (in my opinion).’

And Linzi Poll, of Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, added: ‘Best ever comments by an audience member. Well done that woman. Give her a job in government.’

But Twitter user Slackaly retorted: ‘The funny thing is they don’t know what it is like to actually have to work at something for a whole nation as most of their life they have just worked for themselves.

‘Anyone who stands up and does a job like Theresa May is much, much more decent than those who moan.’

Bruce was praised for her deft and assertive handling of panellists on the new-look Question Time yesterday.

The experienced newsreader appeared to take little time to settle into the frequently fiery debate show.

Brexit was the first and primary topic of discussion and interruption on the first Question Time since the Christmas break, and Bruce was praised for pressing guests on the Brexit deal, Conservative leave strategy, and alleged Labour electioneering over the EU.

Bruce took over from Dimbleby who had presented the often-heated debate show for 25 years.

The show had received some criticism for recitations of various party lines, and sometimes angry clashes.

The new-look show was filmed in the Jeremy Corbyn heartland of Islington, and featured voices from both sides of the divisive Brexit debate.

Ms Good has been approached for comment by MailOnline today. 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk