Des Star Daniel Mays Given Award For 'Most Cigarettes Smoked Onscreen'

Over the past three nights, viewers have been gripped by ITV's true crime drama Des. The series tells the story of serial killer Dennis Nilsen, who killed at least 12 young men between 1978 and 1983.

The show has been heaped with praise by critics and viewers alike, but many people noticed there was a hell of a lot of smoking throughout.

But it transpires the team behind the drama were well aware of this smokiness, with director Lewis Arnold revealing that Daniel Mays was even presented with an award for 'most cigarettes smoked onscreen'.

ITV

Writing on Twitter, he said: "Lots of people tweeting about the smoking. We are aware there is a lot. So much so we got @DanielMays9 an award..."

Congratulations to Mays - clinching that award was no mean feat.

Indeed, social media has been flooded by viewers pointing out the prevalence of smoking in the show. Of these smoking pointer-outers, some felt it was overdone or distracting.

One person tweeted: "Very frustrated with pretty much any pre-90's set TV drama that thinks it should show smoking in just about every scene.

"Des is very heavy handed in this regard. I get it, smoking was quite normal but you don't need to show it all the time. It's just odd."

Another said: "Watching Des on ITV. So much smoking going on. It's a bit distracting."

A third added: "I think I got bronchitis from second-hand smoking just from all the cigarettes in the first episode of #Des."

However, others argued the depiction of smoking was more true to life in the 80s than some might think.

ITV

One viewer, who said they had lived through the era, argued the atmosphere and look of the show were 'spot on', including the cigarette smoking.

Another agreed, writing: "Loving those reacting to the smoking in Des. The 80s was a fog of fag smoke, people lit up everywhere.

"You could buy special ashtray stands to put beside your armchair."

Whatever you make of all the puffing, Mays seems happy with his award, which he says takes pride of place on his mantelpiece.

Perhaps it makes up for all those sleepless nights he spent having nightmares about Nilsen trying to kill him while making the show.

Topics: TV and Film, True Crime, UK Entertainment

Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

@jakesmassey