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Boris Johnson resigns: The best celebrity reactions to prime minister’s speech, from Frankie Boyle to Nish Kumar

Frankie Boyle and Nish Kumar are among the celebrities who have reacted after Boris Johnson resigned as prime minister today (7 July).

Johnson’s decision came after new education secretary Michelle Donelan became the fifth Cabinet minister to tender their resignation. It came after she accepted the role on Tuesday night (6 July), with Johnson’s new chancellor Nadhim Zahawi also publicly urging Johnson to “do the right thing and go now”.

The outgoing prime minister has seen mass resignations from the ministerial ranks and a cabinet revolt.

In total, 57 have resigned or have been sacked from the government since Tuesday evening, including chancellor Rishi Sunak and health secretary Sajid Javid.

Many celebrities have reacted to news of Johnson’s resignation on Twitter.

Comedian Boyle wrote: “Basically a spoken word version of ‘My Way’.”

“If I may quote from my own reviews... what a s*** speech,” added Kumar.

Boris Johnson (Getty)
Boris Johnson (Getty)

Actor Kerry Godliman wrote: “Google Speech Translate: I cannot believe you think I’m s***.”

This Way Up star Aisling Bea posted: “Not trying to burst the “bye-Boris-bubble”, but at the end of every season of Stranger Things, when we think the bad thing is gone & defeated, we learn he has been living inside the hearts & minds of scared children... or is secretly funded & supported by the Russian government.”

Earlier in the day, comedian David Baddiel had written: “I think many people will be feeling the same thing at this deeply historical moment, which is FFS do the resignation speech soon as I have to go out later this morning and I really want to sit here making fun of it.”

Kathy Burke posted a dancing GIF with the words: “Bye bye Bog Job, you f***ing clown.”

Actor Adrian Edmondson quipped: “Quitter!”

Stephen Fry reacted to the news in a threaded tweet, which began: “He’s going! Bless my soul.

“But NOT YET...” the comedian continued, adding, “He just couldn’t do the decent thing and step aside at once. He doubtless pictures himself as an unleashed buccaneering, cavalier swashbuckler rather than the rogue elephant he is, trampling down what’s left of our democracy.

“Oh and oy and oomph, such days,” Fry wrote, before sharing a picture of Johnson with former US president Donald Trump at the G7 Summit in Biarritz, France in 2019.

“Maybe this is the ‘colossal man date’ he keeps referring to…” Fry joked.

Follow live updates on Boris Johnson resigning here.