Richard’s Oscar-worthy ‘spat’ with podcast host

WHEN Richa r d E. Grant was nominated for an Oscar, he portrayed himself as a blushing ingenue in a social media campaign of celebrity selfies and exuberant videos that won him a legion of new fans.

Now, however, another side to his character has emerged, which makes him sound like a bit of a humourless, self-regarding luvvie.

Comedian Richard Herring has revealed that an interview he conducted with Grant was banned by the Withnail And I star after he joked about the actor’s talent. Herring, now 55, chatted to Grant, 65, in front of a live audience in 2019, shortly after the Academy Awards. Grant, pictured, had been nominated as best supporting actor for his role in Can You Ever Forgive Me? but failed to win.

Talking about his podcast RHLSTP, Herring says: ‘A couple have gone wrong without me realising. Richard E. Grant wouldn’t let me put his out and I can’t work out why.

‘It was one of the best ones we ever did... And he blocked me on Twitter, so I can’t even ask him.’

Herring adds: ‘ He hadn’t won the Oscar but he’d been nominated and everyone beforehand had been saying, “He’s being all giddy and playing up because he’s trying to wow the voters, he’s just playing an act”.

‘And he said, “Yeah, that was very annoying to me because I was just enjoying the thing.”

‘ I said, “Yeah, and if you were that good an actor you’d have won the Oscar, wouldn’t you?”’

Speaking on the Walking The Dog podcast, Herring adds: ‘It occurred to me in the moment, he could walk off or it could be the best bit of comedy ever... if he takes it the right way, which was as a joke.

‘He seemed to like it at the time. I think it was the overall impression — he felt I was taking the mickey out of him, which I wasn’t.’

Grant couldn’t be reached for comment.