Latest news with #LittleBritain
Daily Mail
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Matt Lucas, 51, reveals heartbreaking regret over not becoming a father after divorce tragedy
Matt Lucas has shared his regret over not becoming a father after his divorce from his late ex-husband Kevin McGee. The Little Britain star, 51, married TV producer Kevin in 2006 after four years together, but the pair split up in 2008. Tragically, just one year later, Kevin took his own life aged just 32 in October 2009. Appearing on his Making A Scene podcast on Monday, Matt said he believes he would have had children during his two-year marriage if it hadn't ended in divorce. In a heartbreaking admission, Matt revealed he would only want to have a child now if he was in a committed relationship. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Speaking to co-host David Walliams, he said: 'I think I would have loved to have been a father. I still can, I'm 51. How old was Elton when he had them? 'If things had worked out differently in my marriage then probably we might have done. 'It's not something that I feel I could do on my own. I feel I'd want to be in a relationship if I was gonna have kids. 'I do think about it, sometimes. To me it's part of the package of being in a relationship that's settled and happy and something you both want.' Matt keeps his dating life relatively private, and it is not known whether he is in a new relationship or not. Last year, he appeared to be dating again as he was spotted on the dating app Tinder with a verified profile. The Sun revealed at the time that Matt had decided to try his luck at online dating with the app, which sees users swipe right on those they see as a potential match. Curating his profile with a selfie of him beaming, Matt said he was so far unsure what kind of relationship he was hoping to find. However, last year he was spotted on the dating app Tinder with a verified profile Elsewhere, Matt and David teased an epic Little Britain revival during a live appearance on Lorraine earlier this year. The friends, who created and starred in the BBC comedy series, chatted with Lorraine Kelly, 65, on the ITV show about their new podcast. During their appearance on the morning talk show, Lorraine was desperate to know if the programme would ever make a return, after it was pulled from BBC iPlayer, Netflix and BritBox in June 2020. David said: 'Would you like to see it? We'll do it especially for you.' Matt added: 'If we were to do it again, maybe on stage, or something like that. 'We did a tour 20 years ago, it was great fun, I think that would be a good way to do it again.' Earlier on in the interview, Lorraine told the stars: 'Little Britain has had a new lease of life on TikTok. There is a whole new generation getting it, laughing.' David replied: 'Well my son is 11. Everyone at his school is talking about it. As you rightly said, TikTok, people are sharing on TikTok. 'It's a whole new generation discovering it. I think those social media things are great for one/two minute clips.' Lorraine added: 'Some of it is a bit you'd get into trouble if you did that now. But a hell of a lot of it is still as funny as it ever was. If you don't want to watch it, don't watch it.' While David confessed: 'I don't know about you, but someone says every day is there going to be more Little Britain. 'Every day someone comes up to me in the street.' After teasing that they might be making a return, Lorraine looked over the moon as she said: 'In this day and age we need all the laughs we can get.'
Daily Mail
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Iconic comedian looks unrecognisable as he sports rotten teeth for new role - but can you guess who it is?
This iconic comedian looked unrecognisable as he shared a snap of himself in costume complete with rotten teeth to Instagram on Sunday. The funnyman who is best known for his unforgettable sketch characters and catchphrases is currently performing in Arena shows of Les Mis in Sydney and Melbourne. From a foul-mouthed schoolgirl to a Welsh homosexual there are no ends to his acting talents, not to mention appearances in Hollywood blockbusters Gladiator 2 and Bridesmaids. He most recently reunited with his comedy partner after a fallout much to the delight of fans, who hope the pair will be back on screens together soon. But can you guess who it is? From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Of course, it's none other than Matt Lucas, 51, who is best known for his creating and starring in Little Britain alongside David Walliams, 53. Little Britain - which aired on BBC Three and One - had 44 episodes, which aired over three seasons between 2003 and 2006. In February, the pair reunited for a new podcast Making A Scene, 15-years after they rounded off their sole season of Come Fly With Me - a mockumentary about a fictional airport and airlines. Earlier this month Matt, who is playing Monsieur Thénardier in the musical, was replaced mid-performance by his co-star Connor Jones after experiencing health issues on stage. Taking to Instagram he explaining that he had to bow out after feeling his voice 'deserting' him mid-performance. He wrote: 'I've been having a magical time in Les Miserables in arenas in Sydney and Melbourne. He continued: 'In over 30 years I've never had to bow out during a performance but tonight, as I was singer Master Of The House, I could feel my voice deserting me, 'So if Thenardier looked very different in Act 2, that was because the amazing Connor Jones took over. Matt, who is playing Monsieur Thénardier in the musical, looked worlds away from his usual self Matt reassured fans that he is now resting and hopes to return to the stage soon, adding: 'I'm now in bed resting up, and hope to be back on stage soon.' The tour began in Sydney last month and continues in Melbourne through May 25, before moving to Brisbane for five shows. The Australian leg is a limited five-week engagement celebrating the 40th anniversary of the original London production. It comes after David and Matt teased an epic Little Britain revival during a live appearance on Lorraine earlier this year. The two, who created and starred in the BBC comedy series, chatted with Lorraine Kelly, 65, on the ITV show about their new podcast. During their appearance on the morning talk show, Lorraine was desperate to know if the programme would ever make a return, after it was pulled from BBC iPlayer, Netflix and BritBox in June 2020. David said: 'Would you like to see it? We'll do it especially for you.' Matt added: 'If we were to do it again, maybe on stage, or something like that. 'We did a tour 20 years ago, it was great fun, I think that would be a good way to do it again.' He wrote: 'In over 30 years I've never had to bow out during a performance but tonight, as I was singer Master Of The House, I could feel my voice deserting me' Earlier on in the interview Lorraine told the stars: 'Little Britain has had a new lease of life on TikTok. There is a whole new generation getting it, laughing.' David replied: 'Well my son is 11. Everyone at his school is talking about it. As you rightly said, TikTok, people are sharing on TikTok. 'It's a whole new generation discovering it. I think those social media things are great for one/two minute clips.' Lorraine confessed that she remembered when she was watching it that George Michael and Elton John appeared on the series. Lorraine said: 'Some of it is a bit you'd get into trouble if you did that now. But a hell of a lot of it is still as funny as it ever was. If you don't want to watch it, don't watch it.' David confessed: 'I don't know about you, but someone says every day is there going to be more Little Britain. 'Every day someone comes up to me in the street.'
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
David Olusoga: Stop demanding racist terms be removed from literature
Racist language should not be removed from classic books or TV shows and young people should toughen up, David Olusoga has said. The historian and presenter said it was more useful to confront the language of the past than to censor it. 'The thing I'm very aware of is that I'm from a different generation to the generation that is familiar with trigger warnings. I get their argument that it is good to be told that a book has certain stories or certain words that might come as a shock. 'Where I disagree with the idea is that we should remove those words or remove those books from the syllabus,' he told an audience at the Hay Festival. Olusoga recently contributed to a documentary about the BBC show The Black and White Minstrel Show that ran until the late 1970s, which featured white performers using blackface. Olusoga said during an appearance at the Hay Festival: 'To understand how that form of entertainment delivered racism, delivered racial stereotypes and delivered racial language into the British idiom, you have to confront those words. I don't think it is possible to get across just how toxic it is unless you put your hand in the fire. 'Nor is it better to hide from those words and not be able to obtain a proper knowledge of the power of that entertainment. 'I think we need to be tougher. Our ancestors had those words shouted at them; we just have to read them in a book. So I'm afraid I have a much less tolerant attitude with people who, rather than warnings, want words removed.' Novels that have been edited to remove racist references include the James Bond series. Ian Fleming's books were reissued in 2023 with some language edited after a review by sensitivity readers. Some Agatha Christie mysteries have received the same treatment. Episodes of Little Britain were edited on BBC iPlayer and The League of Gentlemen was removed from Netflix because of their use of blackface to portray some characters. Olusoga and Yinka, his sister, last year published a book they wrote together, Black History for Every Day of the Year. Explaining the theme, Olusoga said: 'It makes black history into normal history, literally everyday history. It turns it from something which is seen as political and specialist into something which is just part of history. These histories of Empire, migration and movement are just normal parts of history.' Olusoga added that Black History Month is a valid idea but 'it doesn't solve the big problem, which is understanding that this is part of our mainstream history. It, in some way, reinforces the idea that this is a separate channel alongside the mainstream'. 'Any honest, wholehearted telling of Britain's Industrial Revolution has to recognise the key raw material alongside coal was cotton, and that the vast majority of that cotton came from the Deep South, produced by 1.8 million African-Americans who were part of British history, [although] they never set foot on British soil. 'We cannot tell the story of the Industrial Revolution without them, yet that's exactly what we've been doing.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Wales Online
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
I'm Gen Z and watched Little Britain... I was genuinely shocked, I actually squirmed a bit
I'm Gen Z and watched Little Britain... I was genuinely shocked, I actually squirmed a bit Yeah but no but yeah but - Little Britain has some iconic characters, but there are also some relics from a time that's perhaps best left behind At last I got to see Matt Lucas as Vicky Pollard in action (Image: BBC ) Growing up in a house where Only Fools and Horses, Dad's Army, and Fawlty Towers were the background noise of lazy Sundays and post-teatime wind-downs, it's odd that Little Britain somehow passed me by. It was everywhere in the early 2000s — a cult comedy staple that shaped a certain kind of British humour — yet I'd never sat through a full episode. Writing this comes with a bit of a tightrope walk. On one hand, I risk being called "too woke." On the other, maybe I'll be told I'm not critical enough, but I decided to go in open-minded and see for myself what made this show such a cultural juggernaut — and whether it has anything to say to a 2025 viewer. I must've been about eight when Lou and Andy were at their peak, and I actually remember their Comic Relief cover of '500 Miles' — it was all over the telly. Even then, I had a sense that the humour was "a bit much" for some, though I wouldn't have known why. Fast forward to now, and Little Britain has had its fair share of controversy: episodes pulled, streaming removals, sharp criticism. So I was genuinely surprised to see it crop up in my BBC iPlayer recommendations. Curiosity won. On a quiet Thursday night, I decided to click play and see what all the fuss was about. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter The icon herself, Vicky Pollard, was first up. She was a face I recognised from my childhood — everyone knew the voice, the hair, the tracksuit. Seeing her on screen, I immediately got why she became so iconic. Matt Lucas nails the physicality: the chewing gum, the constant fidgeting, the chaotic energy. In one sketch, Vicky's asked about her coursework and launches into a bizarre ramble of school gossip while staring at the teacher with complete boredom. I had to rewind a couple of times to catch what she was saying... it was complete nonsense, but it cracked me up. Article continues below There's something weirdly nostalgic about the way Vicky spins everyday school drama into full-blown chaos. I had to laugh as she rapidly shifted the blame onto a friend, dragging both the teacher — and I — into a whirlwind of half-truths and confusion; while maintaining the most monotone voice known to man. For me, the character definitely echoed Catherine Tate's Lauren Cooper — that same blend of attitude, nonsense, and deadpan delivery. And just like Lauren, Vicky still managed to make me laugh, even when I wasn't entirely sure why. It was a strong start but it didn't take long for the show to shift gears. Fast forward to the Emily Howard (David Walliams) sketch... I admit, I didn't really know what to make of this one! The narrator introduces her as a "fellow who likes to dress up as a lady," before adding: "Takes all sorts, I suppose." It's said with that classic British deadpan, dry as dust, but the content is harder to swallow. Emily's constant declaration of "I'm a lady!" while behaving in ways that reflect outdated, stereotypical femininity is where the humour doesn't quite land for me. It's hard to figure out whether the joke is about her lack of self-awareness or if it's trying to make some bigger point about identity. It all feels very of its time, and while it might've been funny back then, now it just feels... awkward, to me anyway. Next, I got to see Andy and Lou in action. It's genuinely impressive to watch Matt Lucas and David Walliams jump from one character to another so seamlessly — the physicality, the voices, even the way they carry themselves shifts completely. You almost forget it's the same two people across every sketch. In this one, Lou's trying to pick a show for Andy's birthday, flipping through a newspaper while Andy sits, seemingly uninterested. Out of nowhere, Andy points to the opera advert, and before you know it, they're perched in a grand theatre box, staring down at the stage as the soprano begins to sing. Andy sits there silently for a beat before saying aloud: "I don't like it." That line genuinely caught me off guard and made me laugh. It's so simple, so dry, bluntly honest and delivered in that perfectly flat tone that Matt Lucas does so well. To be fair, most of us have found ourselves in a situation where we didn't quite know what we were signing up for — and wished we could just say exactly what we were thinking. I could instantly see how this duo became such a staple of British comedy; their chemistry, timing, and sheer ridiculousness just work. Kelsey's Grammar School had me smiling. Having friends who went to private schools, it was funny to see the kids rush out to play, only for the school bell to ring immediately, signalling playtime was over. It was such a stereotypical, almost cartoonish portrayal of private schools, but honestly, the simplicity of it was spot on and hilarious. Inside the school, the atmosphere was pure Victorian, like something straight out of a Charles Dickens novel; all grey, old-fashioned, and a little grim. To top it off, watching Matt Lucas seamlessly switch from Andy to a stern teacher was bizarre, in the best way. The way he delivered their names like "Honky Tonk, Phillips, Ashworth" (classic private school names, I'm sure) before asking them to recite from a book in a ridiculous, Elephant Man-style accent had me laughing out loud. Then, seeing the teacher struggle to read after demanding that the students read in rapid succession — all while changing voices every few seconds — was brilliantly funny. My favourite part? When he abruptly cuts himself off to ask, "Shall we watch the video?" It was such a relatable moment and honestly, I couldn't help but love it. And then it came — easily the most uncomfortable line of the show so far. I was genuinely shocked. I actually squirmed a bit. "Unlike other countries, Britain has people of two genders – women and men. Gavin and his friend Jason are two men, write it down – men." That line really stuck with me, not just because of the delivery, but because it shows how much the conversation around gender has shifted. I wasn't entirely sure what angle they were going for — was it poking fun at Britain for being behind the times, or was it actually reinforcing the binary as something to be proud of? Maybe it was meant as satire, especially with the narrator's dry tone, but in 2025 it's hard to read it that way without feeling uncomfortable. Two decades ago, gender just wasn't talked about in the same way, so it's possible the sketch was targeting something totally different. Still, hearing it said in today's climate feels tone-deaf and I had to think about how many Ofcom complaints it would get if it aired now. That said, there were moments inbetween that carried a different kind of humour — more subtle, and honestly, quite enjoyable. The "Uncle Albert Hall" sketch, with David Walliams sat at a piano during a recital, delivering oddly timed anecdotes with a range of silly expressions, had a quiet charm to it. Then there's Matt Lucas as Kenny Craig, the skint hypnotist awkwardly navigating a date — with someone who, funnily, doesn't even remember agreeing to it. He ends up hypnotising her into ordering from the set menu instead of the baked lobster which she initially expresses interest in, and swapping a glass of bubbly for a soft drink. The punchline? He tells the waiter he'll have the lobster and champagne for himself. I didn't see it coming, and it got a genuine laugh out of me. It was a clever, understated sketch that didn't try too hard — and that's probably why it worked. Another thing I noted was the physical comedy in the Dennis Waterman sketch — something I hadn't really expected from Little Britain. Watching him shake the giant paw of a tiny dog or struggle to climb onto an oversized chair was surprisingly funny. It was a different kind of humour to the rest of the show, and honestly, quite refreshing. It felt more in line with the classic sitcoms that I mentioned growing up around. That old-school, exaggerated physicality gave the sketch a lighter feel — and made it stand out in the mix. To round off the episode, we meet Marjorie Dawes — the condescending "Karen" type that most people have probably encountered at some point. She runs a slimming class, and unsurprisingly, this takes us into another pretty controversial area. These days to me it feels like there's something a bit tired about making "fat" jokes, and in 2025, where body positivity and self-acceptance are much more prominent, I felt it quite jarring. That said, what was hilarious was the way Marjorie delivered everything with total confidence — despite clearly not having a clue. She misspells simple words like "chocolate" as "choclit," and her overly cheerful tone, paired with constant passive-aggression, did get a laugh out of me. Yet, when a woman of Indian descent mentioned craving fish and chips, and Marjorie wrote down "curry" instead — I was genuinely taken aback. It was definitely one of the more shocking moments of the episode. Looking back on the episode as a whole, I can completely understand why Little Britain became such a big deal. The characters — from Vicky Pollard to Lou and Andy, Marjorie Dawes, and beyond — are undeniably iconic. Whether or not the humour always lands, these figures left a huge stamp on British pop culture. But watching it now, in 2025, is a strange experience. Some of the sketches still hold up thanks to strong writing, great performances, and classic comedy timing, while others feel like relics from a time that's perhaps best left behind. It's not so much about being offended as it is about recognising how much things have changed... and that's not necessarily a bad thing. Article continues below It's a fascinating watch if you're interested in how comedy reflects the culture it comes from. It's messy, sometimes brilliant, sometimes uncomfortable — but never boring.
Daily Mirror
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Comedy legend issues health update after falling ill and quitting show
The Little Britain star took to Instagram to update fans about his condition after abandoning his role mid-show. He is now resting but says he hopes to be "back on stage soon" Matt Lucas has been supported by fans are revealing he was forced to pull out of Les Miserables mid-show over health concerns. The 51-year-old is currently touring in the 2025 international arena tour of Les Misérables: The Arena Spectacular, which is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the original London production. The show, is currently in Australia where the incident occured. He was forced to abandon his role of Monsieur Thénardier, and leave the theatre on May 14 while an understudy took over during the production in Sydney. Taking to Instagram on Friday he issued a health update to his 405,000 followers. It read: "I've been having a magical time in Les Misérables in arenas across Sydney and Melbourne," he wrote. "In over 30 years, I've never had to bow out of a performance, but tonight, as I was singing Master Of The House, I could feel my voice deserting me. So if Thénardier looked very different in act two, that was because the amazing Connor James took over. I am now in bed resting up, and I hope to be back on stage soon." His fans rushed to the comments section to wish him well, one wrote: "Aw take care of yourself matt, rest yourself and come back strong again!" His former Great British Bake Off colleague Noel Fielding simply said: "Get well soon lovely," while former EastEnders and Once Upon A Time star Sean Maguire commented: "I hope you feel better soon, my dear friend. X." Brave and Doctors actress Gail McKinnion wrote: "Sorry to hear you are feeling poorly. Rest up, you'll be fighting fit in no time x." Matt shot to fame with David Walliams with their hit show over 20 years ago, and now they are working together again. The two comedians revealed earlier this year that they would be unleasing their very first podcast together called, Making A Scene. They have since released regular episodes, some featuring interviews with big names including Simon Pegg, and Daisy May Cooper Matt and David met at the National Youth Theatre in the early 90s and quickly bonded over their love of comedy and impressions. One of their first collaborations was on Rock Profile, which started in 1999. After other TV parts they finally made it big in 2003 with Little Britain. The sketch show aired from 2003 until 2006 on BBC Three and eventually BBC One, however faced backlash in recent years, with some sketches being branded "explicitly racist and outdated" by Ofcom back in 2023. Last year, David teased the idea of bringing Little Britain back, revealing that he thought that offence and shock "can actually be quite exciting". He said: "The comedy I grew up with, whether it's Mel Brooks or Monty Python... I love being shocked. I mean, offence is a bit of a different thing, isn't it, and as a white, middle aged man things don't offend you in the same way as they might if you were a member of a minority group. "But at the same time, I think comedy has got to be playful. And the thing is, if you're worried every time you make a joke… You have half a second to decide with the thing you're going to say, you should say or not."
