10-03-2025
Michael Sheen's furious response to Channel 4 Secret Million Pound Giveaway critics
Michael Sheen has hit back at critics of his Channel 4 documentary Million Pound Giveaway, saying, "I'm not doing it because I want people to think I'm great."
The Good Omens star will debut his documentary tonight (March 10th) which will help people pay off their debts with his own money.
The Welsh actor, 56, has spent two years working on a "secret" project, focusing on the debt and credit industry, with the star speaking on the financial difficulties impacting Port Talbot, where he was raised.
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Ahead of its premiere, some have called into question the motivation behind the show, suggesting the star has done it 'for attention'.
However, it is something he considered before pushing ahead with it, saying it was a "conscious choice" to do this in spite of the potential criticism.
In an interview with The Guardian, the star explained: 'I've heard people say, 'He can't be that selfless, because he's letting everyone know he's doing it.' That's something I had to think about, and I made a conscious choice.'
Michael continued: 'I never feel like it's about me – mainly it's about working with other people or highlighting what they do. I'm not doing it because I want people to think I'm great; I want us to be able to imagine an alternative to this, because this doesn't work.
'And in my own little way, I'm trying to create my own alternative. It doesn't have to be the way it is.'
In the documentary, Michael will spend £100,000 to purchase around 900 personal debts for people in South Wales, with the Welsh actor being raised in Port Talbot himself.
Speaking on his two-year journey in the documentary, Michael said: "I've lost family members during this time. I wasn't sure that we would ever get to this point. It didn't look like it was going to happen for a long time and financially, things have changed. Ironically, I genuinely am not sure if I can afford to do this. But I'm still going to do it, because I've made a commitment."
