'It was absolutely ridiculous': David Essex slams C4 over 'Big Fat' Gypsy film

From the Daily Mail

Seventies heart-throb David Essex has attacked Channel 4 over its latest documentary about gipsies, labelling it ‘nonsense’.

The singer and ex-EastEnders star, who comes from an Irish Traveller background, was infuriated by My Big Fat Gypsy Christening, a sequel to popular series My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding. The one-off film was watched by 2.2 million viewers earlier this month.

‘It was absolutely ridiculous,’ said Essex, 66, who has recently filmed a movie about Gypsies called Traveller. He said the show trivialised the community and added: ‘I was with some Travellers recently filming on a site, and they were going on and on about how it was so detrimental and shows them in a bad light. It is nonsense.’

The singer explained how he once became Patron of the Gypsy Council because he wanted to use his profile to counteract prejudices about travelling communities. He said: ‘My grandfather was a travelling tinker man from Cork. That’s why I got involved.’

Essex was talking ahead of a UK arena tour that will see him perform with a host of 1970s icons, including The Osmonds.