Select a region
A writer who grew up in Jersey has bagged a prestigious Primetime Emmy Award in Los Angeles – and made a cheeky quip about his A-lister namesake as he accepted the prize.
Will Smith bagged the 'Outstanding Writing For A Drama Series' honour for his work on the show Slow Horses at the ceremony on Sunday night.
Mr Smith, who was born in Hampshire but educated at Victoria College and grew up in Jersey, was recognised in particular for season three episode three, 'Negotiating With Tigers'.
The writer and occasional actor was also nominated for 'Outstanding Drama Series' as executive producer of the show, which is an adaptation of Mick Herron's spy novels and stars Gary Oldman and Jack Lowden.
It received a total of six nominations at the 76th annual Primetime Emmy Awards, which celebrates the best in television.
As he took to the stage to accept his award, Mr Smith first addressed his surprise at his name being called out – before making what showbiz pundits were labelling on Monday morning as a "subtle diss" at his namesake, US actor Will Smith, for a 2022 incident.
"First of all, relax – despite my name, I come in peace," Mr Smith said, referencing the now-infamous moment when the actor known for his role as the Fresh Prince of Bel Air slapped Oscars host Chris Rock in the middle of the ceremony after he took offence at a joke aimed at his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.
Video: "Despite my name, I come in peace," he joked. (Page Six/YouTube)
That Mr Smith was handed a 10-year ban from the Motion Picture Academy after his misconduct at the 94th Oscars, which prohibits him from attending any Academy-related events, virtual or real, for the next decade.
Mr Smith's mention of this incident at Sunday's ceremony featured as one of BBC News's eight highlights of the night.
His successful career spanning stand-up, acting and writing has seen him nominated for five total Emmy awards and he won two other times, in 2016 and 2015, for producing HBO's Veep.
He has also received nominations for the Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy and the Producers Guild of America Award for Best Episodic Comedy.
He also worked on the writing team of the multi-BAFTA winning sitcom The Thick Of It, and gave a memorable performance in it as bumbling and Lord of the Rings-obsessed policy adviser Phil Smith.
His debut novel, Mainlander, set in Jersey in the 1980s, was published in 2015.
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.