Helen Mirren is not a fan of the word ‘feisty’, as The One Show’s Alex Scott found out very quickly during Thursday’s edition of the BBC One show.
No sooner had the Prime Suspect star been welcomed to the show by Alex and co-host Matt Baker, when things took a decidedly awkward turn.
Referencing a video compilation of Helen’s many roles, Alex - who is standing in for regular host Alex Jones who is on maternity leave - commented that she had played a lot of “feisty” characters.
“Well, you know, I have played housekeepers as well, and I’m playing a cleaner in my next film,” Helen explained. “I hope there’s a bit of variety there.”
The obviously riled actress then added: “I have to say I don’t like the word ‘feisty’. I don’t know why.
“I think it’s because it’s always related to women. They never say ’a feisty man… a kid, maybe. But I find it slightly insulting, I don’t know why. I want to find another word.”
She then told Alex: “See, I was being the boss there, wasn’t I?”
Ouch.
This isn’t the first time a guest presenter on the show has upset a guest.
Emma Willis was left looking less than impressed during an interview on the show back in 2017 when host Angela Scanlon interrupted her.
The Circle host was there to chat about hosting that year’s Brit Awards, but when she was in the middle of a story, she was cut off by Angela mid-sentence.
After Angela asked Emma what her favourite sweets were, she started to tell a personal story about her grandad.
She told hosts Ore Oduba and Angela: “Well one of my all time favourites – because my grandad always had a jar of them in his house and I would literally eat the whole bowl…”
But before she could finish the sentence, Angela then interjected and said: “We’ll come back to that.”
Cue a look of disbelief on Emma’s face.
Watch the full interview with Reese on The Graham Norton Show, BBC One, Friday 1 November at 10.35pm.
