Ted Lasso accused of jumping on 'anti-British' bandwagon

Ted Lasso accused of jumping on ‘anti-British’ bandwagon and mocking Suella Braverman after episode of hit series starring Jason Sudeikis sees a fictitious Home Secretary who is determined to stop all refugees entering the country

  • Fans say the show featured an attack on UK Government immigration policy
  • It shows a fictitious Home Secretary who seeks to control illegal immigration  
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The comedy show Ted Lasso was until recently the charming story of a hapless American placed in charge of a struggling British football team.

But now fans of the programme, shown on Apple TV, are crying foul over its decision to include a strongly worded attack on UK Government immigration policy in its most recent episode.

Critics say the show, which stars American actor Jason Sudeikis as Lasso alongside British actors Hannah Waddingham and Jeremy Swift, is guilty of jumping on an ‘anti-British bandwagon’.

The episode features a fictitious Home Secretary called Brinda Barot, who is determined to stop all refugees and asylum seekers entering the country. 

Fans have interpreted Barot as a crude caricature of current Home Secretary Suella Braverman. Several of the show’s characters criticise Barot, describing her as ‘a bitch’, ‘an idiot’ and ‘a world-class bigot’.

Critics say the show, which stars American actor Jason Sudeikis (pictured left) as Lasso alongside British actors Hannah Waddingham (right) and Jeremy Swift, is guilty of jumping on an ‘anti-British bandwagon’

The episode features a fictitious Home Secretary called Brinda Barot, who is determined to stop all refugees and asylum seekers entering the country

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One scene shows Barot declaring at a news conference: ‘To anyone attempting to enter our country illegally I say this: go home – Britain is closed.’ 

In another scene, Nigerian- born footballer Sam Obisanya, played by Toheeb Jimoh, is eagerly awaiting a visit from his father who is arriving from Africa.

He is shocked when a friend tells him ‘the bitch’ Barot might not let him in. The player becomes embroiled in a Twitter spat with the Home Secretary, and she advises him to worry more about being ‘a mediocre player in a mediocre team’. The irate player replies: ‘I’d rather be a mediocre footballer than a world-class bigot.’

Frank Furedi, emeritus professor of sociology at the University of Kent said: ‘The tone is consistent with the constant moral condemnation of Britain by The New York Times and related American media. 

They seek to render any affirmation of Britishness and the defence of Britain as toxic and shameful.’ Toby Young, founder of the Free Speech Union, said: ‘I can’t say I’m surprised by this attack on Suella Braverman. I watched the first episode of season three and gave up. It’s the television equivalent of reading Gary Lineker’s tweets.’

One fan wrote: ‘A great show reduced to preaching and hatred.’ Another tweeted: ‘Can someone tell Ted Lasso that net immigration was over half a million last year? We don’t actually turn boats away.’

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