The BBC cut part of Derry Girls actress Siobhan McSweeney’s winning speech at the Bafta TV Awards last night in which she criticized the Government.
The 43-year-old actress from County Cork played Sister Michael, principal of Our Lady Immaculate College on the Channel 4 program.
McSweeney won TV’s first-ever Bafta award for best female performance in a comedy program and spoke very quickly in her speech given the short time available.
He used the speech to criticize the ‘contempt, ignorance and stupidity of your so-called leaders in Dublin, Stormont and Westminster’ – but this was cut short on BBC One.
This is relevant unedited section Siobhan McSweeney’s speech on the Baftas YouTube channel:
This is the full version of McSweeney’s speech on the Baftas YouTube channel, which includes the unedited portion above:
McSweeney played Sister Michael, the stunning headmistress on the Channel 4 show Derry Girls
Siobhan McSweeney accepts the Female Performance in a Comedy Program Award for Derry Girls at the 2023 Bafta Television Awards at the Royal Festival Hall in London yesterday
He began his speech by saying: ‘Oh my God, sorry, hello, right, so I’ve been warned not to make political statements or get super boring or sad and stuff, so I’ll start with a little funny.
‘As my mother lay dying at Bon Secours Hospital in Cork, one of the last things she said to me was whether I would not consider retraining as a teacher. If he could see me now, get a Bafta for playing teacher. Joke on you, ma’am.’
McSweeney also thanked Derry Girls writer Lisa McGee “for not listening to me when I said I could play all the girl roles” and she paid tribute to Channel 4, adding: “You have my devotion”.
He also later said: ‘To the people of Derry – thank you for bringing me into your heart and into your living room, I am impressed every day by how you embrace your spirit of compromise and resilience, despite your contempt, ignorance and foolishness. so-called leaders in Dublin, Stormont and Westminster.
‘In the words of beloved Sister Michael, “it’s time they started wiser”. Thank you very much.’
While the full stream of his speech was uploaded to Bafta’s YouTube channel, the BBC’s coverage has a shorter version.
The clipping version on the BBC – which is still available on iPlayer today in the same form – shows McSweeney saying: ‘To the people of Derry – thank you for bringing me into your heart and living room… thank you very much.’
Asked about the discrepancy, a BBC spokesperson said today: ‘As in previous years, due to the nature of the show it was broadcast with brief delays, and while we always aim to keep to the core sentiment of the acceptance speech, edits had to be made. made due to time constraints.’
Sir Lenny Henry presented an award to Siobhan McSweeney at the Bafta TV Awards last night
McSweeney accepted the Female Performance in a Comedy Program Award last night
McSweeney smiled at her desk attending the 2023 Bafta Television Awards in London yesterday
Derry Girls, a comedy about a group of teenagers growing up in Londonderry in the 1990s, was a hit film that built a cult following and commitment to its three series.
Set during Trouble, the show was praised for offering a new perspective on the IRA period and loyalist truces through the eyes of a group of young girls.
Then in a ceremony at the Royal Festival Hall in London yesterday, Derry Girls won the Bafta TV award for best scripted comedy.
Creator Lisa McGee thanked Channel 4, asking her to “please never change” and thanked “our first home, Derry.”
Bafta presenters Rob Beckett and Romesh Rangathan made several references to BBC impartiality during the show.
Beckett said: “As we all know this year there have been a problem or two with the BBC topics and balance.”
He added: ‘It’s not easy for comedians to present awards shows on the BBC. We have to be funny. We have to be professional and also offer a balanced view.’
Beckett also joked: ‘A few months ago we hoped The Traitors would be back on BBC One soon. That’s what some newspapers call the host of Match Of The Day.’
And Ranganathan then said: ‘Are we restless? I think we might be nervous.’
It comes after Gary Lineker was briefly suspended as a Match Of The Day presenter in March after criticizing the Government’s immigration policies on Twitter.
Source: | This article originally belonged to Dailymail.co.uk