Barry Humphries mistakenly congratulated Dermot O’Leary for coming out as gay. (ITV)
Alison Hammond absolutely lost it after a This Morning guest mistakenly congratulated Dermot O’Leary for coming out as gay.
Flamboyant veteran comedian Barry Humphries, best known for playing Dame Edna Everage, appeared on ITV’s daytime talkshow Friday (26 November).
Speaking to Hammond, the queen of British television, and O’Leary, the 87-year-old reflected on his “very good memory” as he said: “Incidentally, Dermot, I want to congratulate you, by the way, seriously, on your courage.”
In just nanoseconds, Hammond began cackling as she clocked Humphrey’s endearing error – it was Phillip Schofield who came out as gay in 2020.
Humphries, however, didn’t. “No, no, last year, when he came out and told us about his sexuality,” he said, before Hammond’s laughter cut him short.
The camera then cuts back to O’Leary, who is seen chuckling and trying to hold it together (an attempt was made).
“Thank you,” he replied. “I will pass that on to the gentleman who is here from Monday to Thursday – don’t you worry!”
A confused and eyebrow-raised Humphries then attempted to clarify what he meant, saying: “No, your bravery was marvel was a marvel – and by the way, we’re all in show business.”
“Thank you for liberating me again,” O’Leary joked later in the interview.
Because Hammond’s laughter is divinity incarnate, viewers were left in hysterics at Humphries’ fumble.
Nothing has made me laugh this much in weeks. https://t.co/yMWRcLizf2
— David Chipakupaku 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇿🇲 (@David_Chippa) November 26, 2021
Ikyfl. LOL British daytime tv >>>>>>>> the super bowl https://t.co/DsISmFlw3v
— ade onibada (@SincerelyAde) November 26, 2021
I am in TEARS laughing at this https://t.co/lf0hXTFf8S
— Rhys (@_RhysThorne) November 26, 2021
Not a SINGLE WORD is spoken by @AlisonHammond in this minute, yet she enhances every second of it.
She is the absolute, undisputed, can never be beaten, legendary, iconic woman of our times. https://t.co/AwNOfrWGSJ
— Jamie Kinlochan (@JamieKinlochan) November 26, 2021
alison’s laugh is so contagious omg https://t.co/ODoJTR1VC9
— a. (@Afsana_U) November 26, 2021
Schofield has spoken candidly about coming out on live television, a process that left him so rattled that he still sees a therapist and takes medication.
“My mental health is still a work in progress,” he wrote in his autobiography last year, Life’s What You Make It.
“I talk regularly to a professional team who tell me that everything will be OK.
“Sometimes I have my doubts. If I’m totally honest with you, as I’ve said before, it’s not in my nature to hurt people and so, with that in mind, I’m finding it hard to pick my way through the debris.
“Is there a way to reveal a secret like this to the world and not hurt your wife or your family?
“The answer is obviously not. But we are close and loving. We’ll get through.”