Awkward moment Richard Ayoade refuses to apologise to Paul Mescal on Graham Norton Show

Richard Ayoade had prime opportunity to apologise to Paul Mescal on The Graham Norton Show, but that doesn't mean he actually did it. Check it out:

To give you a little background, Mescal received the Leading Actor award at the 2021 TV Baftas for his role in the hit BBC drama Normal People.

When he went to pick up his award, he gave a rather awkward yet heartwarming speech in which he thanked a load of people including his co-star Daisy Edgar-Jones and his parents.

Now, Ayoade was hosting the awards ceremony that year, and what with him being the dry comedian he is, as soon as the clapping settled down he said of Mescal: "What an absolute b*****d."

And with both actors appearing on last night's (4 November) The Graham Norton Show, the host thought he'd give The IT Crowd star an opportunity to make amends.

Norton asked: "Richard, is there anyone on the couch you'd like to apologise to?" To which he bluntly replied: "No... apart from maybe myself for being too hard on myself sometimes."

BBC

The crowd erupted into laughter, as did Mescal, showing it's all in jest.

But that didn't stop the whole thing from being awkward, especially after Norton decided to relive the Bafta moment.

Ayoade was on top form, joking how they only let him host as it was a lockdown event. "Once no one could come they felt it was safe to ask me to host," he quipped.

The show then played a clip of the end of Mescal's speech, in which he points out that he's 'incredibly nervous' just before the 'b*****d' moment.

Once the footage finished, Ayoade joked while sitting on the couch: "I stand by that, your entire energy was toxic."

Mescal then said: "I do remember leaving and just being like, 'Did Richard Ayoade just call me a b*****d?'"

When talks turned to Michaela Coel joining the couch that night, the Normal People actor revealed: "I met her.

BBC

"She gave a beautifully eloquent speech and clearly seeing my shambles of a speech was like, 'Next time you should write a speech."

Poor guy couldn't catch a break that night.

Plenty of people have commented on the segment from last night, with one writing: "Paul mescal is like me when put in awkward social situations."

Another said: "Richard Ayoade is my style icon. Always so elegant and witty and funny."

"Moss you've still got it boy," quipped a third.

While a fourth chimed in: "Nice timing."

Topics: TV and Film, The Graham Norton Show

Daisy Phillipson

Daisy graduated from Kingston University with a degree in Magazine Journalism, writing a thesis on the move from print to digital publishing. Continuing this theme, she has written for a range of online publications including Digital Spy and Little White Lies, with a particular passion for TV and film. Contact her on [email protected]

@DaisyWebb77