During an interview on Good Morning Britain, Absolutely Fabulous actress Helen Lederer responded politely to Ed Balls.
Helen, 69, was talking about her recent guest role on Coronation Street as a love interest for Ken Barlow (William Roache) and memoir when the former politician interrupted.
Noticing her answers were being cut short, the French and Saunders star told him: ‘You keep finishing my sentences, which is good because I’m probably being quite slow.’
On X, viewers had secondhand embarrassment for Ed, 57, after Helen scolded him, with one viewer branding the moment ‘awkward.’
@courtneynew14 cringed: ‘Balls wishing the ground would swallow him up right now, how awkward is this interview.’
Echoing their sentiment, @Kazwags commented: ‘I hope I look as good as her when I’m 69. Good on her for telling Ed to stop finishing her sentences. Love Helen Lederer.’
@Christia1theon1, meanwhile, saw the humour in the situation and called the exchange ‘funny.’
During the interview, Helen said:I’m glad you liked the memoir but I’m hoping I might go back but, um..’
GMB presenter Susanna Reid interjected: ‘Coronation Street?’
Referencing her character’s romantic liaison with Ken, Ed also interrupted with: ‘For a second date?
Helen continued: ‘For a second date and follow through in a casual way as an older person but I…’
Ed jumped in, saying: ‘Back to his apartment?’
Helen responded: ‘Yes. you keep finishing my sentences, which is good because I’m probably being quite slow.
‘But what I find is when you want a job you don’t get it but when you don’t look – it’s like when I met my second husband – when you stop looking you bump into them immediately because you’re not looking. So that’s when the call came for Corrie.
Fans of Ab Fab will recognise Helen as Catriona, a magazine studio employee who works alongside Patsy and Magda.
She appeared as the oblivious employee in 14 episodes from 1992 to 2012, alongside Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley.
Helen has appeared in a number of high-profile shows, including Casualty, Hollyoaks, the Horrid Henry film, and the CBeebies series Old Jack’s Boat.
She has worked closely with French and Saunders throughout her career, beginning at the Comedy Store, where the two were regulars, and starring in the long-running comedy skit show French And Saunders.
Ed Balls wishing the ground would swallow him up right now, how awkward is this interview #GMB #Goodmorningbritain
— Courtney newcombe (@courtneynew14) April 17, 2024
I hope I look as good as her when I'm 69. Good on her for telling Ed to stop finishing her sentences. Love Helen Lederer #GMB
— Karen Alcock (@Kazwags) April 17, 2024
So funny = Helen Lederer #GMB
— Christian (@Christia1theon1) April 17, 2024
On reality television, she became a housemate on Celebrity Big Brother in 2017 and was evicted after 22 days.
Sarah Harding, the late Girls Aloud singer, eventually won the series, with Amelia Lily finishing second.
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV.
Source My Celebrity Life.