The BBC has announced that a member of the public from outside of the political classes or business elite will be selected to appear on all future news and current affairs panels.

In a radical move, BBC talent scouts have already found the “everyman” they were looking for in complete unknown, Nigel Farage.

The move was quite a surprise for Mr Farage. “Having never been a member of parliament and with no experience of the civil service I am amazed at the amount of airtime they are planning to give me,” he said.

Mr Farage, who had been on a European funded exchange student training scheme for the past 17 years, is looking forward to the new challenge. Friends say that mild-mannered Nigel was humbled by the BBC’s generous offer.

Man of the people: Unknown Nigel Farage will appear on the BBC quite a lot

A BBC insider revealed that Mr Farage’s natural bashfulness would be a “refreshing change” to the hubris and self-interest which has come to be associated with politics in recent years.

He said: “Nigel will make the perfect ambassador for our worldwide audience and we want him to feel fully supported in bantering with politicians, big business and – who knows – even presidents, on the British public’s behalf.”