Lammy’s ‘saviour’ row cost Comic Relief £8M

TOTAL HIT BY STACEY BLAST

COMIC Relief lost half a million viewers following the “white saviour” row sparked by Labour MP David Lammy. Just 5.6million people tuned into the BBC telethon on Friday, drastically down on the 6.2m who watched in 2017. Donations were also down as people handed over £8m less than two years ago, with the total currently about £63m. The haul is set to be the lowest since 2007. Viewers seemed to have been affected by Stacey Dooley’s earlier argument with Mr Lammy.

She was criticised over a picture on her Instagram showing her holding children in Uganda last month.

He claimed the Strictly star and documentary maker was perpetuating “tired and unhelpful stereotypes”.

The politician added: “The world does not need any more white saviours.”

Would-be donors were unmoved by celebrity cameos such as David Beckham, Vernon Kay and Steve Coogan.

This year was also overshadowed when One Direction star Louis Tomlinson pulled out of a performance following the shock death of his sister, Félicité.

Others were unimpressed by the cast of Four Weddings And A Funeral reuniting in the main sketch of the night.

One critic said: “At least we DAILY STAR, Monday, March 18, 2019 know what Four Weddings And A Funeral would have been like without any jokes.”

Despite fewer viewers and donations, Comic Relief boss Liz Warner was happy with the night’s results.

She said: “We never take this for granted and we are thrilled and astounded by the generosity of the British public this year.

“We are humbled by the support of each and every person who did their bit.

“Thank you to all those across the nation, to the wonderful inventive and creative fundraisers in schools, those who go the extra mile in their workplaces and the remarkable people who commit to us in their local communities.”

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