Alan Partridge’s Ukrainian joke on Comic Relief sparks angry reaction from viewers

Alan Partridge is facing backlash from a joke he made about Ukrainian refugees during BBC's Comic Relief Red Nose Day show.

Now, last night's (15 March) show marked Sir Lenny Henry's final time co-hosting the annual programme, which raises a lot of money for charity.

The 65-year-old, who co-founded Comic Relief in 1985 alongside Richard Curtis, said: "Red Nose nation. Your generosity has brought tonight’s total, so far, to a phenomenal £37,019,832."

As usual, the show consisted of a number of different acts and celebrity appearances.

Jordan Mansfield/Comic Relief

McFly opened the show, while the co-hosts included the likes of Maya Jama, David Tennant, Romesh Ranganathan and Paddy McGuinness.

Elsewhere on the programme, Hollywood actors Julia Roberts, Olivia Colman, Hugh Grant and Liam Neeson made special appearances during a comedy sketch.

However, when the cast of W1A appeared alongside Steve Coogan aka Alan Partridge, it seems that viewers were not best pleased with his joke about Ukrainian refugees amid the ongoing war with Russia.

During a segment abut the most and least charitable things done by the British public, Partridge was joined by Sidekick Simon, played by Tim Key, who said: “Grant in Briston said his most charitable act was taking in a family of Ukrainians for a year.”

Alan questioned: “And the least charitable?” The character replied: “Turfing them out, he’s got rid.”

In response, Alan added: “Marvellous, well actually a friend of mine did that for a family of Ukrainians. Still friends, with them, they still wash his cars.”

Taking to X (Twitter), one viewer fumed: This Alan Partridge sketch is bl**dy awful.”

Jordan Mansfield/Comic Relief

“On the day when 20 Ukrainians killed in a missile attack in Odesa, jokes about Ukrainian refugees not really that funny #ComicRelief #Ukraine️,” a second added.

“#comicrelief Alan Partridge sketch was awful. Especially the stupid comments about #Ukraine refugees. Not impressed," another wrote.

“Never understood the appeal of Alan Partridge... he's just not funny #ComicRelief," a fourth penned.

LADbible has contacted the BBC for comment.

Topics: BBC, Celebrity, Ukraine, Charity

Anish Vij

Anish is a GG2 Young Journalist of the Year 2024 finalist. He has a Master's degree in Multimedia Journalism and a Bachelor's degree in International Business Management. Apart from that, his life revolves around the ‘Four F’s’ - family, friends, football and food. Email: [email protected]

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