Comic Relief's Love Actually reunion wins over audience with dig at Piers Morgan
The Comic Relief Love Actually reunion, broadcast on BBC One tonight, won viewes over with an emotional - and, in light of recent events very timely - speech from Hugh Grant's Prime Minister (who, years on, was apparently still in power).
A dig at the controversial TV presenter and journalist Piers Morgan went down particularly well, with many pleased to see that the overtly sentimental segment had finally shown some teeth.
"Times are tough," Grant told a press conference towards the end of the sketch, before adding, in a line that some have hailed as the best of the night: "The Harry Potter Films have finished... Piers Morgan is still alive..."
I actually loved #RedNoseDayActually.
"Piers Morgan is still alive"
Best line. Hands down. #comicrelief— Amanda (@Pandamoanimum) March 24, 2017
"The Harry Potter Films have finished, Piers Morgan is still alive..."
Love Actually went there. #comicreliefpic.twitter.com/hlHCszRghI— Ellen Rose (@icklenellierose) March 24, 2017
The 'Piers Morgan' line is the first bit to make me laugh... #comicrelief#LoveActually
— ❄HellyBelly❄ (@Miss_Kitsch1986) March 24, 2017
Other sections of the 11 minute long "sequel" were also received enthusiastically, including a sketch featuring Bill Nighy's Billy Mack...although some fans were "heartbroken" to hear that the rock star's long-suffering manager had been killed off.
As if they killed off Billy Mack's manager! Heartbroken ��
— Amelia Pond (@MegReeves93) March 24, 2017
'I like the children who buy my records. I can't stand the other ones. You must've noticed how short and selfish they are.' Billy Mack♥️
— Hannah Meadows (@hlmeadows) March 24, 2017
Ahead of the sketch, however, many viewers expressed frustration with the show as a whole, complaining that this year's Red Nose Day TV fundraiser was painfully unfunny.
A general mood of "I know it's for charity, but does it have to be this awful?" seemed to pervade...and a large number of people confessed that they were watching solely for the promised Love Actually section.
Didn't they say it'd be funny this year...... #comicrelief#RedNoseDaypic.twitter.com/IoHHpyCRAO
— Kip Hakes (@kiphakes) March 24, 2017
Waiting for love actually like. . . #comicreliefpic.twitter.com/j5TTsZHz31
— Amelia Sibley (@MillieSibley) March 24, 2017
Me, waiting for the #loveactually special on #comicrelief. The sad VTs are better. pic.twitter.com/HJb2l9ioaR
— Matt Graham (@mattjgraham) March 24, 2017
Waiting for Love Actually like... #comicreliefpic.twitter.com/ONDJSDydNh
— Natasha Lake (@tashafett) March 24, 2017
When the next 'comic' sketch isn't the #LoveActually reunion... #comicreliefpic.twitter.com/GZuwitzNRh
— M. (@stuffandtingz) March 24, 2017
The Love Actually cast, then and now: in pictures