Stars heckled at awards

Little Britain stars Matt Lucas and David Walliams were heckled by cult film-maker Ken Russell when they collected a comedy award this week.

The incident came as they picked up the South Bank Show award over fellow nominees Nighty Night and the Green Wing.

Russell yelled out a reference to a sketch in which Lucas's character Marjorie Dawes, a bitchy Fat Fighter organiser, spits in the face of Vanessa Feltz

As they collected the trophy Lucas said: "Thank you very much, this has been our second series..."

According to Teletext, Russell heckled: "Let's hope to God there isn't a third. It isn't funny to spit in the face of the public."

Walliams hit back with: "When I get older I would like to be as red as Ken Russell."

Afterwards Russell seemed to extend his confusion over the scene, in which Feltz was a willing participant. He said: "Why applaud these people? They have won the award for spitting in the public's face and that's not funny. It's obscene."

Walliams said afterwards: "It is slightly unusual to be heckled at the South Bank Show awards show.” I’m such an admirer of his films so I’m a bit disappointed. . Perhaps he's just a really big fan of the show.”

The awards, hosted by Melvyn Bragg, will be broadcast on ITV1 on Sunday.

Little Britain was also named best comedy in the Broadcast Awards, chosen by the TV industry, this week.

Published: 27 Jan 2005