'EastEnders' star Jake Wood hits out at casual ginger 'abuse' on 'GMB'

Chris Edwards
·Contributor
Updated
Jake Wood on Good Morning Britain (ITV)
Jake Wood on Good Morning Britain (ITV)

EastEnders star Jake Wood has hit out at those who casually mock ginger people during an appearance on Good Morning Britain.

Wood, who plays Max Branning in the BBC One soap, said he’s had enough of ginger jokes after seeing a comedy sketch on Twitter, which mocked the idea of redheaded people not being able to go out in the sun.

Read more: Jake Wood’s wife almost eaten by alligator during family holiday

Speaking to presenters Ben Shephard and Kate Garraway, he said: "I think there's always a fine line with banter. I don't mind fellow redheads taking the Mickey, but there is a fine line.

“Probably 60 or 70 percent of redheaded people have grown up with this sort of abuse and you either suck it up and that makes you into the character you are, but as we’re seeing from people who are getting in touch, people have been suicidal, they’ve complained about their kids at school being bullied, they want to dye their hair.

Wood appeared alongside ginger comedian Alasdair Beckett-King, who said he also makes casual jokes about ginger people (ITV)
Wood appeared alongside ginger comedian Alasdair Beckett-King, who said he also makes casual jokes about ginger people (ITV)

“Someone tweeted me who’s dyed their hair since they were a kid and still continue to dye it, and they still suffer from confidence issues.”

He added: “So I think bullying, discrimination, prejudice, there’s never any justification for them in any area. And for me, growing up ginger and all my life having these experiences, I think is a very important subject.”

Wood’s comments come after he criticised a comedy sketch posted by The BBC Social’s Twitter account, which joked that ginger people can’t go out in the sun.

Read more: Good Morning Britain viewers up in arms as strippers appear on ITV breakfast show

Commenting on the video, he wrote: Bullsh*t. I’m calling this out. Why is it socially acceptable to take the piss out of someone for the colour of their hair and not for the colour of their skin?! All gingers have experienced being teased and bullied. I’m not even joking @GingerParrotUK I’m happy to lead the army.

The actor has since been using social media to raise awareness of the casual abuse ginger people receive on a regular basis.