The much-anticipated Love Actually sequel was shown on Comic Relief last night –but viewers were shocked that one of the characters had been killed off.
Billy Mack, played by Bill Nighy, revealed the news during an interview on Radio Watford. He was asked why his manager, Joe, was not with him.
“He was a big man with a big heart,“ he said, before adding, “Big heart attack.
“Big coffin, it’s a big hole in my life.”
Viewers wrote about their disappointment on Twitter. “They killed off Billy Mack’s manager! Heartbroken,” wrote one fan.
“Still not over the fact they killed off the fat manager,” tweeted another.
“I’m so annoyed at Joe’s ending in the #loveactually sketch!,” added another fan. “Everyone else got a happy ending.”
Viewers also missed Alan Rickman, who died last year. His on-screen wife, played by Emma Thompson, was also absent.
One person tweeted: “That Love Actually Reunion was beautifully written and elegantly natural. Only sadness was the lack of Alan Rickman #RedNoseDayActually.”
While another added: “The sad moment when your [sic] watching love actually redone for red nose day and Alan Rickman isn’t there. #RedNoseDay #rednosedayactually.”
Keira Knightely, Andrew Lincoln, Liam Neeson, Rowan Atkinson, Martine McCutcheon and Chiwetel Ejiofor all reprised their roles for the 11 minute sketch – and there was a cameo from Kate Moss.
Hugh Grant played the prime minister once again. “Well, interesting obviously times have got harder and people are nervous and fearful,” he said at a press conference.
“And it’s not just in politics that things are tough, Usain Bolt has run his last Olympics, the Harry Potter films are finished, Piers Morgan is still alive.
He ended with an impassioned speech, which seemed apt considering recent events in London. “Wherever you see tragedy, you see bravery too,” he said.
“Wherever you see ordinary people in need, you see extraordinary people come to their aid.
“Love is all around, most people still every day have enough love in their heart to help human beings in trouble,” he said.
“Good is going to win, I’m actually sure of it.”
The speech received praise on Twitter. “The Love Actually speech was so fitting after this week,” wrote one viewer.
Added another: “Any chance we could get Hugh Grant in as proper PM?”