Dan Stevens explains why he took a swipe at Boris Johnson on The One Show
The actor featured on the evening chat show to discuss his new political drama Gaslit.
Downton Abbey star Dan Stevens has said he took a swipe at Boris Johnson on The One Show because he wanted to hold the Prime Minister to account over “absolutely outrageous” behaviour in Government.
The actor, 39, said the joke prompted “massive applause and laughter” in the studio and suggested he had not been rebuked by BBC bosses.
On Wednesday, he featured on the evening chat show to discuss his new political drama Gaslit from US network Starz, based on the events of the 1970s Watergate scandal that led to former US president Richard Nixon resigning.
Describing the show, Stevens said: “Well, what you’ve got is a criminal for a leader who is wrapped in a messy war, embroiled in a stupid scandal and surrounded by ambitious idiots and really should resign and… no I’m sorry… that’s the intro to Boris Johnson.”
The comments left hosts Alex Jones and Jermaine Jenas speechless as they quickly tried to move the conversation along.
Speaking to GQ following the appearance, he said: “It’s hard to ignore the parallels really. And I think with a show, like Gaslit, you know, especially in this country, and people might wonder, ‘well, this is a very American story. I’m not sure if there’s anything that for me.’
