Sue Perkins slammed for ‘sexist and crude jokes’ by unimpressed Bafta awards viewers as she hosted the show for the first time
BAFTAS host Sue Perkins suffered a backlash after her “sexist” jokes at the TV awards fell flat.
She was blasted for making a string of ill-judged remarks during Sunday’s ceremony, which was shown on BBC One.
Taking to the stage at central London’s Royal Festival Hall, Sue said: “Typical of course, ten men blowing their own trumpets before a woman even so much as opens her mouth.”
The former Great British Bake Off presenter, 48 — one of TV’s best-paid stars — went on to address the gender pay gap.
She said: “I don’t want to ignore the elephant in the room, but on such a prestigious occasion I feel it would be crass and borderline inappropriate to discuss my fee for tonight.
“So let’s just say I’m going to be putting in half the effort. To be honest I haven’t even cleaned my teeth.”
She also joked about dancer Ashley Banjo, who starred in ITV’s The Real Full Monty.
Sue said: “Believe me I never thought there was a God until I saw Ashley Banjo naked. I’ve brushed past softer dry stone walls.”
She also branded TV presenter Piers Morgan “a massive organ”.
But the Good Morning Britain host, 53, blasted her gags.
He said: “Why is Sue Perkins allowed to make a series of crass, crude sexist jokes about men, when a male host would see his career crucified for doing the same to women?”
Viewers shared his anger. British Olympic athlete Emily Diamond said if a man had made similar jokes there would be “uproar and people losing their jobs”.
Another viewer called her “untalented, unfunny, crude, sexist and vulgar”.
HOST'S FLAT 'GAGS'
- TURNS out tonight of course I am having to work alongside a massive organ. Now I know how Susanna Reid feels on Good Morning Britain.
- WHAT a year we have had eh? Another royal baby born. I am not saying there was pressure on Kate to look perfect afterwards but apparently she couldn’t hear if it was a boy or a girl over the sound of the hairdryer.
- JODIE Whittaker was the perfect (Doctor Who) choice because if there’s one thing this year has taught us, if anyone’s got experience fighting off grotesque monsters, it’s an actress.
- I TELL you what, so many sequins have gone where the sun doesn’t shine I am going to wake up tomorrow thinking I have been vajazzled by pixies.