British comedian Matt Lucas has been known to push the envelope with his hilarious sketches and on-screen personas since he first started his career in the mid-90s.
The talented writer and actor quickly became well-known for his comedy roles and his depiction of outlandish scenarios that fans grew to love.
But it was his televised version of his show Little Britain that catapulted him to fame when it first hit TV screens in 2003.
Appearing alongside fellow comedian and writer David Walliams, the two men offered viewers several laughs as they impersonated various characters.
However, the controversial show hasn’t sat well with modern audiences and since the programme is no longer televised Matt has been forced to apologise for several allegations relating to Little Britain and other shows.
Daily Star has taken a look inside his most controversial moments
LGBTQ+ backlash
(Image: GETTY IMAGES)
Although Little Britain was one of the nation’s most loved comedy shows, it hasn’t aged too well with modern audiences.
In 2017, Matt was forced to apologise to the trans community after many believed that Little Britain did not reflect them well.
Talking openly to The Big Issue at the time, he expressed: “If I could go back and do Little Britain again, I wouldn’t make those jokes about transvestites.”
He added: “Society has moved on a lot since then, and my own views have evolved. There was no bad intent there — the only thing you could accuse us of was greed.
“We just wanted to show off about what a diverse bunch of people we could play.”
Blackface
During the time Little Britain was in its prime, Matt and co-star often dabbled in controversial costumes to represent people from different countries.
Matt himself was often seen in blackface makeup and used it for one of his characters Pastor Jesse King.
After receiving an immense backlash for his portrayal, Matt issued another apology in 2020.
The star said: “David and I have both spoken publicly in recent years of our regret that we played characters of other races.
“Once again we want to make it clear that it was wrong and we are very sorry.”
Matt and David’s show Come Fly With Me also showed the men impersonate characters from different ethnic backgrounds which many found distasteful.
Both programmes have now been removed from BBC’s streaming services.
Gluten-free snub
(Image: Channel 4)
Last year Matt appeared to upset viewers while he presented The Great British Bake Off alongside Noel Fielding on Channel 4.
During free-from week, as the Bake Off contestants prepared to get stuck into another challenge, Matt said: “Like the two tears I shed for my gluten brothers who have been cast aside for the wants and vagaries of fashion.”
But the frank comment didn’t sit right with several viewers at home and they jumped to Twitter to share their frustrations.
One upset viewer penned: “Gluten-free isn’t the ‘vagaries and fripperies’, coeliacs have no choice and any gluten makes us seriously ill, it can lead to stomach cancer among other things. It’s certainly not for fashion Matt Lucas.”
While another annoyed spectator wrote: “Ok please stop saying gluten free diets are a fashion! Coeliac disease is not a fashion, it is an autoimmune disease where the body attacks itself after gluten ingestion! I’m sick of this [expletive]. If I could eat gluten I would!”
After receiving backlash from angry fans, Matt took to Instagram to share a message from the charity Coeliac UK which read: “Coeliac disease is an autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues when eating gluten. Following a gluten free diet is a health necessity and not a dietary choice. Retweet to raise awareness. #CoaeliacDisease.”
He also penned: “Following on from ‘Free From’ Week on the Bake Off, I am happy to share this info…”
Racism claims on Bake Off
(Image: Channel 4)
Matt’s gluten-free remark wasn’t the only thing that upset viewers on Channel 4’s baking show as some also accused him of “casual racism”.
During an episode that aired in October 2021, Matt appeared to exaggerate a German accent and viewers were certainly unimpressed.
Matt and his co-star Neil often provide light-hearted comedy while in the famous Bake Off tent to help the bakers relieve stress and to entertain viewers at home.
However, some believed Matt took his comedy antics a bit too far when he mimicked a contestant’s accent.
Jumping onto Twitter, viewers aired their distress once more.
One spectator wrote: “@RealMattLucas I hope you feel embarrassed about your awful, very racist, ignorant and hurtful German accent on @BritishBakeOff tonight, Jurgen look so hurt, you made a lovely man feel small.”
Meanwhile, another said: “Finding #GBBO a little awkward. I get annoyed when people put on a Yorkshire accent as a joke, I imagine that’s how Jürgen is feeling with @noelfielding11 and @RealMattLucas. The hosting just seems a bit off the mark this season.”
But some Twitter users jumped to Matt’s defense at the time, with one writing: “Seems Matt Lucas is the source of Twitter’s panty twist today.
“I’m sure whatever it is he has or hasn’t done, has been blown wildly out of proportion, but eh, this is what happens on here,” the viewer penned.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
