Photos: Simon Amstell stuns BBC Breakfast hosts with off-colour joke about Russell

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His humour certainly isn't to everyone's taste.
And an ill-judged remark by Simon Amstell, best known for his stint hosting Never Mind the Buzzcocks, stunned BBC Breakfast presenters and viewers this morning.

The oddball comedian made an insensitive remark about Russell Watson's battle with brain tumours at the end of an awkward interview with presenters Bill Turnbull and Sian Williams on the programme.

Not so funny: The Never Mind the Buzzcocks host remarked, 'Stop talking! We're finished! Got to get Russell on with his tumour'


Gaff: Comedian Simon Amstell made an insensitive joke about Russell Watson's battle with brain tumours on BBC Breakfast this morning


The hosts were attempting to wrap up the chat with the talkative 30-year-old, who sat cross-legged on the couch, so they could move on to their next guest, tenor Russell Watson.

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As Turnbull and Williams became flustered trying to hurry him along, saying 'We're finished now,' the comedian reacted with disbelief.

He mocked them, joking: 'Stop talking! We're finished! Got to get Russell on with his tumour!'
Unimpressed: The presenters were stunned by the joke, with Turnbull saying firmly, 'Now you do have to stop talking'

I'm staying: Amstell mocked flustered presenters Bill Turnbull and Sian Williams as they attempted to wind up the interview

His remark was met with an uncomfortable giggle from both hosts, who quickly reprimanded him.
'Now you do have to stop talking,' Turnbull said seriously, as Williams pointed out Watson, who was side of stage waiting for his interview.
'He's right there,' she exclaimed, gesturing apologetically to the off-camera Watson, adding: 'He'll hit you on the way out.'
Williams attempted to lighten the awkward moment, saying: 'That was a Buzzcocks moment there.'

Awkward: Sian Williams gestured apologetically to Watson, who was waiting side of stage
The comment about the singer, who has suffered two devastating brain tumours in recent years, came after Amstell admitted he has been kept awake at night by some of his more insensitive remarks.
'I could have been more sensitive about people's emotions,' he said earlier in the interview about past jokes. But added: 'But they were funny, right?'
Watson appeared next on the programme, to talk about overcoming the brain tumours.
The 43-year-old tenor recently revealed that he contemplated suicide during the surgery, weeks of radiation and resulting bout of depression he went through for the tumours that were discovered in 2006, and again a year later.




Recovery: Tenor Russell Watson was the next guest, who was appearing to speak about overcoming his brain tumour

He says now: ‘I believe I’ve survived for a reason’, he says. ‘What happened to me was ordained. I don’t know why I was put through so much illness and pain, but I do know that I’ve come out of it a better person.

'I nearly died twice, and that has to shake you up and make you see and feel things in a different way. I feel closer to God and I thank him for giving me another chance’.

In an interview last week with the Daily Mail's David Wigg, he reveals that the surgery had some unexpected results: 'If there’s a bonus, it is that the operations have opened up my nasal cavity and cleared my sinuses, which has had a beneficial effect on my voice.’
He has also defended his relationship with 21-year-old Louise Harris.
The singer, who has sold seven million records, says of the 22-year age gap: ‘It feels right. I thought about it and asked myself, who cares? God, after two brain ops, the radiotherapy and all the medication I still take . . .  aren’t I due some happiness?’


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1331956/Simon-Amstell-stuns-BBC-Breakfast-hosts-joke-Russell-Watsons-brain-tumour.html#ixzz1627Havzo