He had already ruffled presenter Ryan Seacrest’s feathers at the Oscars when he poured “ashes” over him in a prank earlier this year and it seems the BBC aren’t willing to take a risk with Sacha Baron Cohen’s latest character in the upcoming film, The Dictator.
Video link here of that incident.
Reports from Cohen state that the BBC have pulled the plug on Cohen appearing in character on any of their shows to promote the movie. Cohen who plays the title role in the movie stars as Admiral General Aladeen and claims that he had received interest to appear on BBC shows such as The Graham Norton Show, The One Show, Newsnight and The Andrew Marr show before they banned him.
He added that their radio shows, Radio 1 and Radio 4, also refused to let him appear in character saying that the broadcaster was, “victimising little old me.” He added, “While I am a huge admirer of state-sponsored censorship, the BBC banning me from their meagre channels is an outrage.”
The BBC responded by saying that Cohen’s comments were “tongue in cheek” and that few of the shows mentioned would have a place for him in character.
I for one would love to see him on The One Show (pre-watershed) and of course on The Graham Norton Show. We’re not sure how anyone would cope with it pre-watershed but it’s bound to make for great TV.
The spokesman added, “The Graham Norton Show said it is about personalities. Appearances in character are normally scripted, which might not work if he was on the sofa beside other guests.” Hmm, that sounds like a bit of a cop out, we’re sure Cohen could handle himself in character and ad lib the interview.
Personally, I think it would be great to see a few character interviews while interacting with other guests as well. It’s not like he hasn’t done it before.
Cohen’s latest antics in Sydney wouldn’t have helped his cause with the BBC as he appeared on Nine’s Today Show yesterday morning. In the 8 minute interview he managed to make the presenters clearly uncomfortable with his comments which included insulting New Zealand, propositioning the host Lisa Wilkinson a minimum of four times, suggesting she and her co-host Karl Stefanovic had slept with Muammar Gaddafi, said he missed Gaddafi, and advised the Prime Minister to get a sex change. Cue lots of awkward laughing and lots of anxious “oohs.”
Check out that video here: http://youtu.be/8mMPqbqmTg8
Meanwhile, we will be blessed with his presence at the world premiere at the Royal Festival Hall next Thursday and the promise of something “big.”
A spokesman for the film added that no one knows what he is planning, “Even we haven’t been told what Sacha is planning but I’m sure it will be big – it always is.”
The Dictator is released here next week and tells the story of a leader who risks his life to ensure democracy never comes to the country he oppressed. Also starring Sir Ben Kingsley and Megan Fox, the movie looks set to be a sure fire hit regardless of his character interviews being banned or not.
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