David Tennant receives applause after taking swipe at Donald Trump during BAFTAs speech

David Tennant drew applause for firing a shot at Donald Trump during his opening speech at this year’s BAFTA Film Awards.

The actor mocked the President of the United States, moving on to discuss him by saying ‘speaking of villains’.

He went on to joke: “Donald Trump said he hasn’t seen The Apprentice — because it’s a 15. It’s not on Nickelodeon.”

He then joked that by saying his name three times ‘it’s like Beetlejuice – I’ve summoned him'.

He fired a shot at the President of the United States (BBC)

Tennant's jokes were controversial, as most things involving Trump tend to be, and led to the BBC cutting some of his remarks from the broadcast.

The awards are broadcast on a two hour delay, allowing the BBC to cut certain content as they wish, perhaps hoping to avoid their own version of the Oscars slap.

Tennant made the joke following an opening that featured several celebrity cameos, including Brian Cox, with the former Dr Who actor doing a rendition of '500 Miles' by The Proclaimers.

The Scottish star is hosting tonight's shows which has seen nominations from films such as Conclave, A Real Pain, Emilia Perez, and Anora in one of the last major award shows before the Oscars.

He made the comment about Trump (Rebecca Noble via Getty Images)

One viewer tweeted following the joke: "David Tennant saying 'talking of villains' after saying Donald trump oh I do adore him".

Another said: "Trump's hair in the apprentice... Talking about villains!" Oh David Tennant the man that you are."

The actor came out and was unafraid to fire shots at a politician despite the controversy that followed a previous insult he made at the expense of Conservative party leader Kemi Badenoch.

Tennant said that Badenoch should 'shut up' at the British LGBT awards upon receiving an award for being an ally, saying: "We shouldn’t live in a world where that is worth remarking on.

"However, until we wake up and Kemi Badenoch doesn’t exist any more – I don’t wish ill of her, I just wish her to shut up – whilst we do live in this world, I am honoured to receive this."

Tennant presented the awards for the third time (Stuart Wilson via Getty Images)

This also isn't the first time that Tennant has made a joke at the expense of Trump, or even the only time he has called the politician a 'villain'.

Appearing on the Late Night with Seth Meyers show in 2015, Tennant discussed how villains 'don't know they're villains', before listing Donald Trump as an example of that.

He also fired a shot at the politician in 2018 when appearing on the Channel 4 comedy show the Last Leg.

Tennant discussed how Trump had done an interview in which he claimed Scottish people liked him due to his golf courses, finally saying: "Can I say on behalf of the Scottish nation, we f**king don't."