There was uncertainty on Good Morning Britain when host Ranvir Singh asked Jason Manford a ‘bizarre’ question.
The comedian joined on the morning talk programme to discuss his podcast Best Men and his performance as the Cowardly Lion in the theatrical version of The Wizard of Oz.
However, the conversation was momentarily distracted when Ranvir questioned whether Jason’s character was a “friend of Dorothy,” and then explained that she meant if the lion was homosexual.
‘Are you playing a gay lion in the Wizard of Oz?’ she asked.
A visibly baffled Jason stuttered over his words as he said: ‘Er, I don’t think… he’s a friend of Dorothy, which is a now used as a phrase, what gay people use to describe themselves.’
‘But he’s the original friend of Dorothy.’
He added: ‘He doesn’t get a boyfriend at the end of it.’
Jason noted there is ‘a gag’ in the stage show about friends of Dorothy, but added: ‘I don’t know. It’s just a family show. But if there’s another lion out there…’
Later, when the interview came to a close and the GMB hosts reminded viewers that Jason was in The Wizard of Oz, Jason interjected, ‘As a gay lion, apparently.’
To which Ranvir responded: ‘A gay lion, a non-binary lion… give it a modern twist.’
While the term “friend of Dorothy” is well-known, if not a little out of date, Good Morning Britain viewers were bewildered as to why Ranvir had chosen that topic, with several branding it “bizarre.”
Taking to Twitter, or X, one person wrote: ‘What on earth was that bizarre interview with @JasonManford about?’
They added ‘you could see that Jason was confused as to why they asked.’
Another asked: ‘Why did Ranvir actually ask Jason Manford if he was playing a GAY lion??! That was utterly cringing !!’ I don’t think he appreciated it either ?’
‘As far as interview questions go that must be right up there as one of the most ridiculous,’ one said.
And another stated simply: ‘What a bizarre question for Ranvir to ask.’
In the London Palladium performance, Jason portrays the Cowardly Lion, while Ashley Banjo plays the Tin Man and Gary Wilmot plays the Scarecrow, and Dianne Pilkington plays Dorothy.
He previously said he would be keen to possibly pen his own musical in the future.
‘Maybe I’ll write my own musical. I’ve got a couple of things bubbling away. I’m writing with some friends, and so it’s just a case of getting ‘em up on their feet and seeing how it goes,’ he said.
‘I love being part of a cast and crew. I really enjoy that part of a musical. As a stand-up, it’s quite a lonely job, you’re by yourself quite a lot.’
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on Good Morning Britain
Source My Celebrity Life.
