Football's 'philosopher king' Joey Barton appeared on Question Time last night and came under fire for comparing Ukip to a "really ugly girl."

The QPR midfielder has apologised for making the analogy during a debate with MEP Louise Bours over the merits of her party's European election.

Barton was putting forward a fairly strong argument until he made the disappointing comment, drawing gasps from the audience when he said: “If I'm somewhere and there was four really ugly girls, I'm thinking she's not the worst - that's all Ukip are.”

“What an offensive thing to say,” Bours replied. She accused the 31-year-old of "ignorance" and said he "fulfils the mission that footballer's brains are in their feet."

Joey Barton accused of sexism on Question Time