Hugh Bonneville at the Downton Abbey Premiere

It was very much an “Okay, granddad. Let’s get you to bed” moment. Idiotic bandwagon-jumper.

Anyone can stand up in public and say 'I'm against what's happening in Gaza' and then get a nice big pat on the back for their virtue. It's entirely meaningless. I'm against people dying in wars too. So what?

Yes. This.

Can't believe people could be so spiteful to object to his perfectly reasonable message.

You have in depth knowledge of his expertise or otherwise, I take it?

And? I expect Mr. Bonniville is too busy for forums. So he took the opportunity that presented itself to use his public voice, succinctly and effectively. Why shouldn’t he. I expect you would do the same if you had a public profile.
If this thread is anything to go by, with the usual couple of exceptions, he got it just right. Good for him.

Some of the comment on here are quite something. Hugh seems to have touched a nerve for wanting the slaughter of innocent people to stop.

Bonneville is just another ill informed fool joining the ranks of Lily Allen etc

❤️🇮🇱❤️

The world is probably dying for your and my opinions too. Not. Yet here we are, giving them anyway

On the 'conflict in the Middle East' board

The world is probably dying for your and my opinions too. Not. Yet here we are, giving them anyway. Should he not be afforded the same opportunity when it presents itself. Or does being an actor disqualify individuals from holding opinions (unless those opinions align with our own …)?

Well if there is any box that we should all be ticking, it’s the one where we are against genocide.

Nicely said and said in a way that makes it difficult to edit out.

A minority of presumably British people who presumably don’t vote in Israel anonymously post in support of the Israeli government on this forum. Is that equally bizarre/odd?

As a public figure, he has a voice and chose to use it. You and I, presumably, are not.

Well done Hugh. I like how he managed to say nice things about the patently shite film too, framing it as fun, and a love letter to fans.

Well then he should have saved it for a proper interview. Im sure the world is dying for Hugh Bonneville's expert analysis of one of the most intractable conflicts of our time.

I expect Mr. Bonneville would be more than happy to expand further on his views and be scrutinised given the appropriate opportunity.

You dont think its weird for a British actor who doesnt vote in Israel to stand be on the red carpet and say I support X [insert name of foreign politician] and his government.

Ok.

That’s silly. He was using a high-profile event to say ‘This isn’t ok.’ What ‘scrutiny’ do you think he should have faced? This isn’t PMQ, it’s an actor on a red carpet.

No if you're not prepared to be scrutinised you shouldn't make public statements. If you deliberately make them in a context where you wont be scrutinised you are a coward.

Bizarre how?

It wasn’t the time or place to talk in detail. He made his point, quickly and appropriately.

It woukd have been innaprooriate to make a political statement of support for a foreign government. What a bizarre idea.

Umm. I know the journalist woukdn't scrutinise him. I know he didn't really want to talk about it in detail.

That's the point.

What’s pathetic about expressing an opinion you share with millions of people, most of whom don’t have a public voice?

Would you think it equally pathetic had he expressed support for the Netanyahu government?

Why?

He made his point, he wasn’t there for a debate, in which case he should have given the chance for others to speak. But he had something to say, said it, and then moved on to answer the journalists question.

The journalist would have been unlikely to scrutinise him and would most likely have made a neutral comment along the lines of “we’re not here to talk about that” kind of thing like the BBC report and the a level student.

I thought it was pathetic