Mathew Horne says it was "appropriate" for the 'Gavin and Stacey' Christmas special to include the song 'Fairytale of New York' and its perceived homophobic lyric.
Mathew Horne
The 41-year-old actor - who plays titular character Gavin Shipman - has defended the show's co-writers Ruth Jones and James Corden for penning a scene which shows Bryn West and Nessa Jenkins - played by Rob Brydon and Ruth Jones - singing a rendition of the festive tune by The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl which contains the line "you scumbag, you maggot, you cheap lousy f*ggot".
The use of the song prompted almost 900 complaints to the BBC, but Horne can't see the issue with including that track as it would be popular with the characters that feature in the sitcom.
Speaking to Daily Star Online at the National Television Awards (NTAs) on Tuesday night (28.01.20), Matt said: "Yeah, there was [anger]. I wasn't really party to that as I don't really read the news but it is a popular song that has been used for decades.
"We felt it was appropriate to use it at Christmas time which is what the song was written for you know."
In response to the complaints, the BBC insisted that there was "no intention to offend viewers".
A statement from the broadcaster read: "'Fairytale of New York' is a well-established, much-loved Christmas song which tells the story of a troubled couple in 1940s New York.
"The descent of their relationship is reflected in the increasingly abusive and offensive terms they use to address each other; insults which are intended to reflect the language that such characters might have used in that era.
"The origin of the word includes a definition which describes it as a contemptuous and antiquated word for laziness, and the author of the song has cited this inference behind his inclusion of that line.
"While the word 'f*ggot' is now widely acknowledged as having the potential to offend, the song never suggests or implies that this is, or was ever, an appropriate way to address another person, nor does it link it to homosexuality."
Horne's co-star Joanna Page - who plays his on-screen wife Stacey Shipman - previously spoke out about the controversial moment insisting she didn't pay much attention to the furore.
She said: "It wasn't something I was annoyed about. Everyone has a right to their own opinion. They can watch something and they have their own right so I mean, it's up everybody what they think and feel."
Tagged in Mathew Horne Rob Brydon