Ross Kemp Defends Celebrities Who've Commented On The Migrant Crisis

Gary Lineker and Lily Allen have been criticised for being vocal on political issues.

Ross Kemp has defended celebrities including Gary Lineker and Lily Allen, who have been criticised for weighing in on the migrant crisis.

While many fans of Gary and Lily have praised the pair for lending their voices to the ongoing debates, others have not been so kind, and a column in The Sun suggested Gary should be sacked by the BBC for “peddling migrant lies”.

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Ross Kemp, Lily Allen and Gary Lineker
Dominique Maitre/WWD/REX/Shutterstock/Dan Wooller/PA

However, Ross - whose latest documentary takes him to Libya, where he learns more about the treacherous journey taken by migrants hoping to reach Europe - has shared his support for stars making their voices heard on the matter.

During an appearance on BUILD, on the question of whether celebrity voices have a place in these social and political debates, Ross replied: “I think everybody’s entitled to their opinion, and we have social media.

“I happen to like Lily and Gary as human beings and respect their views.

“I don’t respect everybody’s view on social media but that’s the nature of it and also what  makes it so interesting, we’ve all got a voice and I’m 100% behind that... whether I agree with it [people’s view], or disagree with it.”

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Ross sees boats full of migrants being rescued
Sky One

The documentary concludes Ross’s current Sky One series, ‘Extreme Worlds’, and his team were the first Western filmmakers to travel to Libya’s desert regions, joining the migrants on their journey.

During the interview, he also discussed what it was like filming the various ‘Extreme Worlds’ episodes, admitting that it felt understandably bizarre to return to ‘EastEnders’ in between shoots.

See what he had to say about that below...

Migrants Land In Greece
(01 of09)
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MYTELENE, GREECE - MARCH 12: Volunteers and Lifeguards help an inflatable boat with refugees, crossing the sea from Turkey to Lesbos, some 5 kilometres south of the capital of the Island, on March 12, 2016 in Mytelene, Greece. Migrants and refugees are still arriving on the shores of the Island of Lesbos, while the multinational force of the Standing NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) Maritime Group 2 are patrolling the coast of the Greek Island of Lesbos and the Turkish coast. Turkey announced on Monday to take back illegal migrants in exchange for genuine refugees. (Photo by Alexander Koerner/Getty Images) (credit:Alexander Koerner via Getty Images)
(02 of09)
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MYTELENE, GREECE - MARCH 12: Refugees from mainly Afghanistan and Syria are seen shortly after arriving on an inflatable boat with other refugees, crossing the sea from Turkey to Lesbos, some 5 kilometres south of the capital of the Island, on March 12, 2016 in Mytelene, Greece. Migrants and refugees are still arriving on the shores of the Island of Lesbos, while the multinational force of the Standing NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) Maritime Group 2 are patrolling the coast of the Greek Island of Lesbos and the Turkish coast. Turkey announced on Monday to take back illegal migrants in exchange for genuine refugees. (Photo by Alexander Koerner/Getty Images) (credit:Alexander Koerner via Getty Images)
(03 of09)
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MYTELENE, GREECE - MARCH 12: Refugees from mainly Afghanistan and Syria are seen shortly after arriving on an inflatable boat with other refugees, crossing the sea from Turkey to Lesbos, some 5 kilometres south of the capital of the Island, on March 12, 2016 in Mytelene, Greece. Migrants and refugees are still arriving on the shores of the Island of Lesbos, while the multinational force of the Standing NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) Maritime Group 2 are patrolling the coast of the Greek Island of Lesbos and the Turkish coast. Turkey announced on Monday to take back illegal migrants in exchange for genuine refugees. (Photo by Alexander Koerner/Getty Images) (credit:Alexander Koerner via Getty Images)
(04 of09)
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MYTELENE, GREECE - MARCH 12: Refugees from mainly Afghanistan and Syria are seen shortly after arriving on an inflatable boat with other refugees, crossing the sea from Turkey to Lesbos, some 5 kilometres south of the capital of the Island, on March 12, 2016 in Mytelene, Greece. Migrants and refugees are still arriving on the shores of the Island of Lesbos, while the multinational force of the Standing NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) Maritime Group 2 are patrolling the coast of the Greek Island of Lesbos and the Turkish coast. Turkey announced on Monday to take back illegal migrants in exchange for genuine refugees. (Photo by Alexander Koerner/Getty Images) (credit:Alexander Koerner via Getty Images)
(05 of09)
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MYTELENE, GREECE - MARCH 12: Volunteers and Lifeguards direct an inflatable boat with refugees, crossing the sea from Turkey to Lesbos, some 5 kilometres south of the capital of the Island, on March 12, 2016 in Mytelene, Greece. Migrants and refugees are still arriving on the shores of the Island of Lesbos, while the multinational force of the Standing NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) Maritime Group 2 are patrolling the coast of the Greek Island of Lesbos and the Turkish coast. Turkey announced on Monday to take back illegal migrants in exchange for genuine refugees. (Photo by Alexander Koerner/Getty Images) (credit:Alexander Koerner via Getty Images)
(06 of09)
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MYTELENE, GREECE - MARCH 12: A refugee from Syria warms himself with a blanket after arriving on an inflatable boat with other refugees, crossing the sea from Turkey to Lesbos, some 5 kilometres south of the capital of the Island, on March 12, 2016 in Mytelene, Greece. Migrants and refugees are still arriving on the shores of the Island of Lesbos, while the multinational force of the Standing NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) Maritime Group 2 are patrolling the coast of the Greek Island of Lesbos and the Turkish coast. Turkey announced on Monday to take back illegal migrants in exchange for genuine refugees. (Photo by Alexander Koerner/Getty Images) (credit:Alexander Koerner via Getty Images)
(07 of09)
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MYTELENE, GREECE - MARCH 12: A refugee talks on a smartphone after arriving on an inflatable boat with other refugees, crossing the sea from Turkey to Lesbos, some 5 kilometres south of the capital of the Island, on March 12, 2016 in Mytelene, Greece. Migrants and refugees are still arriving on the shores of the Island of Lesbos, while the multinational force of the Standing NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) Maritime Group 2 are patrolling the coast of the Greek Island of Lesbos and the Turkish coast. Turkey announced on Monday to take back illegal migrants in exchange for genuine refugees. (Photo by Alexander Koerner/Getty Images) (credit:Alexander Koerner via Getty Images)
(08 of09)
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MYTELENE, GREECE - MARCH 12: A boy from Syria warms himself after arriving on an inflatable boat with other refugees, crossing the sea from Turkey to Lesbos, some 5 kilometres south of the capital of the Island, on March 12, 2016 in Mytelene, Greece. Migrants and refugees are still arriving on the shores of the Island of Lesbos, while the multinational force of the Standing NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) Maritime Group 2 are patrolling the coast of the Greek Island of Lesbos and the Turkish coast. Turkey announced on Monday to take back illegal migrants in exchange for genuine refugees. (Photo by Alexander Koerner/Getty Images) (credit:Alexander Koerner via Getty Images)
(09 of09)
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MYTELENE, GREECE - MARCH 12: A woman from Afghanistan checks her phone after arriving on an inflatable boat with other refugees, crossing the sea from Turkey to Lesbos, some 5 kilometres south of the capital of the Island, on March 12, 2016 in Mytelene, Greece. Migrants and refugees are still arriving on the shores of the Island of Lesbos, while the multinational force of the Standing NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) Maritime Group 2 are patrolling the coast of the Greek Island of Lesbos and the Turkish coast. Turkey announced on Monday to take back illegal migrants in exchange for genuine refugees. (Photo by Alexander Koerner/Getty Images) (credit:Alexander Koerner via Getty Images)