The Darkness appeared on BBC Breakfast (Image: BBC)
BBC Breakfast viewers have slammed a “car crash” interview with members of The Darkness, as they spoke to Jon Kay and Sally Nugent this morning (Tuesday 9 December).
The rockband, which formed in 2000, consists of the Hawkins brothers Justin and Dan, Frankie Poullain and Rufus Tiger Taylor. Their debut album, Permission to Land, was released in 2003, and the band won three Brit Awards in 2004, before they split a few years later.
They announced reunion shows in 2011, and continued to tour throughout the following decade, performing at the VE Day 80 celebration in Horseguards Parade in May this year. The brothers appeared on BBC Breakfast this morning, ahead of their new Christmas hit, reworking Mistletoe and Wine.
Opening the segment, before Sally and Jon even asked any questions, Justin was left distracted by the BBC set, exposing behind-the-scenes technology under the BBC Breakfast coffee table.
“Nobody at home can see it but we can see what’s coming up, don’t read my messages,” Jon warned.
Viewers branded the interview a “car crash” (Image: BBC)
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The interview went on with Justin and Dan speaking about their new song, saying: “Mistletoe and Wine has been a staple between us for years, whenever Dan and I sing to each other during the Yuletide season, it’s always that number.
“Uncharacteristically, Dan takes the higher harmony and I take the lead, and it’s something we always sing.”
Dan added that their inspiration from the song came from receiving a Cliff Richard calendar when he was younger.
Justin went on: “Those are really good by the way, because every month, the face is exactly the same, it’s amazing. He’s so well preserved. And I think his music is timeless in the same way that his face is.”
At one point, Jon began asking if the duo had heard any response from Cliff Richard, but was interrupted by Justin, joking that Jon was going to ask if they’d had any “work done”.
The interview went on with Sally asking Justin if he regularly looks at his phone, Justin attempting to send a message to Cliff Richard on air, saying: “Hey Sir Cliff, this is an amazing song, thanks so much for creating it and giving us so many seasonal memories with it, it’s been a pleasure to reimagine it in The Darkness way and I do hope you enjoy our iteration of your wonderful seasonal megasmash, Mistletoe and Wine.”
Viewers were less than impressed with the segment (Image: BBC)
Elsewhere, Justin referred to past controversies he’s faced, including completing a course of rehabilitation from alcohol and cocaine abuse.
He told the BBC Breakfast hosts: “Suddenly, we’re doing similarly sized things to what we were doing 20 years ago, and that’s the result of a lot of hard work.”
He continued: “I took five years off because I made some lifestyle choices that were somewhat questionable and perhaps damaging to my health and I needed some me time, and it stalled the momentum of the band, but since I’ve come back to music, we’ve been working really hard.”
When Sally probed Dan on whether he also took “me time”, Dan replied: “I had some children… definitely not me time.”
Justin Hawkins referenced his stint in rehab and made a dig at Oasis (Image: BBC)
As Jon turned the conversation back to their tours, and highlighted a gig in Knebworth next year, Justin was interrupted by Sally as he tried to say: “I always like to swap the O and the E.”
“Not this morning,” Sally jumped in with, before Justin slammed Oasis with a sly dig.
When Jon referenced the rumours that the Oasis brothers would be performing at Knebworth, Justin replied: “To me, that’s exhilarating news, and I can’t wait to not go.”
At the end of the segment, Sally pointed out that Justin was wearing hotel slippers, to which he replied: “Comfort is key,” adding: “Rather than buy a pair of shoes, I just wear the complimentary slippers from the hotel.”
Viewers were less than impressed with their appearance on BBC Breakfast, with one person branding it a “car crash interview” on X.
Sally Nugent hosted BBC Breakfast today with Jon Kay (Image: BBC)
“That interview was like pulling teeth. It was all about Justin,” another said.
“Car crash interview gotta love #TheDarkness,” one viewer wrote.
Another said: “This is an awful interview! Why going on if you don’t want to be there.”
Another commented: “Well this is excruciating,” as someone else wrote: “That’s enough of that.”
“That was soooo bad,” another said, as yet another viewer wrote: “Give me strength…”
Someone else, however, rushed to their defence, writing: “Somehow I’m thinking the humour by @thedarkness is a bit too high minded for @sallynugent and @jonkay01 interview on #bbcbreakfast – it’s hilarious hearing them make jokes and there is 0 reaction by the presenters.”
BBC Breakfast airs from 6am on BBC One and iPlayer.
