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Richard Curtis has reflected on one Comic Relief moment he doesn’t think could be recreated in 2023.
The famed filmmaker and co-founder of the charity, which returns for its annual Red Nose Day telethon tonight on BBC One, has worked with Hugh Grant plenty of times in the past, and he has recalled the actor’s intense snog with Dawn French back in 1995.
That year’s Comic Relief took a steamy and hilarious turn when the two stars locked lips on screen, and she went on to smooch the likes of George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Johnny Depp in various skits over the years.
Lorraine Kelly brought up the memorable moment during an interview with Richard on Friday’s episode of her ITV morning show.
‘I don’t think that’d be allowed these days,’ he quipped.
‘I don’t think it would,’ Lorraine howled. ‘It was great, and Dawn just went for it! I love that!’
Dawn French and Hugh Grant locked lips back in 1995 (Picture: ITV/BBC)
Richard, who has worked with Hugh on iconic movies like Love Actually and Notting Hill in the past, couldn’t resist a cheeky dig at his frequent collaborator as he revealed how much he loves working on Red Nose Day.
‘Just the feeling that you’re being a full blooded citizen. My feeling of life is that if you open a door to people being able to do the right thing, millions of people charge through it,’ he said.
‘I’m a real optimist and today’s just a mechanism. I’ve got a red nose here – every red nose that someone argues online. That’s a kind of weapon for good. It’s a lot more interesting than working with Hugh Grant, I can tell you that.’
Richard doesn’t think they could repeat the stunt today (Picture: ITV)
Lorraine joined in the fun, teasing: ‘A lot more interesting that interviewing Hugh Grant, god love him! I’ve interviewed him and he was absolutely charming. But he is very charming, very funny.’
Richard quickly added: ‘He’s done great stuff for us!’
And while Richard doesn’t expect to recreate Hugh and Dawn’s moment any time soon, the Vicar of Dibley star previously revealed she once snubbed a pitch to kiss Harry Styles for the telethon.
Speaking in 2017 on Glamour’s Hey, It’s OK… podcast, she said: ‘The first suggestion that comes in to Comic Relief is “Who will you be kissing this year?” And they make some suggestions, like, somebody said “What about if we could get Harry Styles to kiss you?” ‘
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However, she revealed: ‘They suggested Harry Styles and I went ‘No hang on, hang on everyone, stop. I’m nearly 60. This is very unseemly that Harry Styles will be forced into the studio with an old woman and have to kiss her hairy lips!’
She added: ‘When I kissed Hugh Grant [in 1995] we did make a million quid and the kiss did go on for forty minutes. It went on through the news. What did I catch?’
Lorraine airs weekdays at 9am on ITV. Comic Relief airs tonight (March 17) at 7pm on BBC One.
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