The BBC edited out some of David Tennant’s opening jokes about Donald Trump during its BAFTA coverage.
The BAFTA ceremony aired on BBC two hours after it began at 7 p.m. GMT (11 a.m. PT), and the broadcast was condensed to a two-hour show. As a result, certain jokes Tennant made about the U.S. president during the live show were not included.
In the live version, Tennant joked that it was unlikely Trump had seen The Apprentice movie because it was rated 15 in the UK and not shown on Nickelodeon. He also said, “Donald Trump. I’m worried. I’ve said his name three times. It’s like Beetlejuice – I have summoned him.” These jokes were cut from the BBC’s broadcast.
However, the BBC version still included some Trump-related humor. While introducing The Brutalist, Tennant quipped, “It’s the boldest film about architecture this year, apart from Donald Trump’s hair in The Apprentice.” He followed that with another joke, “Talking of villains,” which received a loud round of applause from the audience at the Royal Festival Hall in London.
Tennant’s opening remarks included him walking onto the stage to I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) by The Proclaimers. He sang, “I’ve walked 500 miles just to host one BAFTA more,” referencing his role as host the previous year. He also made jokes about sequels, The Substance, and A Complete Unknown.
The BAFTA live show is ongoing, and winners so far include Brady Corbet for The Brutalist, Conclave for Outstanding British Film, and Kieran Culkin and Zoe Saldana in the supporting acting categories. You can follow our liveblog for updates.
