This Bloke Came Up To David Baddiel

Onward, forever onward rumbles the row over Last Night of the Proms, with opportunist and ignorant pundits laying into the BBC relentlessly for the heinous crime of sponsoring the Henry Wood Promenade Concerts since 1927 and therefore saving those concerts, bringing classical music to the masses at affordable prices, for future generations to enjoy.

David Baddiel

Those kicking the BBC have, to no surprise at all, included Brexit Party Oberscheissenführer Nigel “Thirsty” Farage and his pals, not least mercenary hack Isabel Oakeshott. Both of these less than totally august individuals could be seen in a video where Nige tells his followers “Stick two fingers up to the BBC and sing Rule, Britannia!”

Farage misses the point: restrictions on live performance as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic mean very little singing can be allowed. This is also to do with the safety of the performers, which the BBC clearly cares about, even if Farage does not. Meanwhile, Adam Kay was unimpressed with the Farage rendition. “For someone who apparently loves the song so much, it's weird that Nige doesn't know the words. Will be slaves, not shall”.

Then David Baddiel had a full and frank Derek and Clive moment. “There might be some who feel a little sad about Rule, Britannia!, seeing it, now divorced of triumphalist origins, only as a Proms tradition. Watching this however makes it clear how it’s still basically a Cunts Anthem”. Not Tony Newley, then? This set off a tsunami of righteousness.

Like Terry Manners patronisingly blustering “What a disgusting man you are Mr Baddiel, dumping on war veterans and people you couldn't hold a candle to. You are free not to sing our patriotic songs but do not abuse those who do, some of whom fought and died to bring you the freedom of speech you now use so abusively”. Nigel Farage and those on the stage with him fought and died, did they? Don’t be such an anally retentive clown.

One Tweeter went straight for the anti-Semitic trope: “I've never understood why people who despise a country so vigorously and passionately would actively choose to live there. Especially people with a choice and adequate finances to move pretty much wherever they wished”. Another went totally wrong: “Took these pics of Dame Vera Lynn's funeral, just how F*cking angry am I at [Baddiel] at this moment”. What’s the relevance of Vera Lynn?

Over at Murdoch property TalkRADIO, dribbling bigot Mike Graham claimed the BBC were likening their detractors to Nazis before blubbering “I don't know what's wrong with David Baddiel, who seems to think [singing Land of Hope and Glory] makes everybody a bunch of... I can't say the word, but he might want to look in the mirror”. Wrong tune. Next.

After one observer noted “Funny how so many people who disagree with him think it's relevant to bring up him being Jewish”, Omid Djalili attempted a little levity. “One way round this is replace slaves line with “Britains will never never never live in caves”. Cave dwellings lack light, have poor ventilation and are often associated with poverty, mental illness and an upcoming no deal Brexit. Would update the song perfectly”.

Baddiel himself was left to muse “I note there's been some controversy about this tweet, with the usual to-ing and fro-ing of bad faith arguments. But really, the gentlemen in this particular video could be singing Three Lions and I'd think much the same thing”. Preceded with “Hello”. I mean, “Hello” - that was the worst thing.

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