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Magic apologises for Richard Hawley’s sweary speech at Sunday’s Olivier Awards

By | Published on Tuesday 4 April 2023

Magic Radio had to issue an impromptu apology on Sunday night during Richard Hawley’s acceptance speech at the Olivier Awards, which the radio station was broadcasting live.

Hawley picked up the Best Original Score prize at the London theatre awards for his musical ‘Standing At The Sky’s Edge’, which – after premiering in Sheffield in 2019 – had a COVID-delayed London run at the National Theatre in February and March this year.

As noted by Radio Today, in his short speech – even though it wasn’t short enough for award organisers – Hawley managed to squeeze in four fucks, three pisses and a couple of shits. Which, to be fair, isn’t language you’d usually expect on a Sunday evening on good old Magic

“I must apologise for anyone who is offended by some of the language that Richard Hawley is using”, Magic’s presenter interjected half way through the speech, adding: “He’s clearly very emotional about the evening”.

As Hawley began an anecdote about his childhood in Sheffield it looked like Magic might cut away from the proceedings, but then he picked up his award and left the stage.

The musician dedicated his award to life-long friend Steve Mackey, the Pulp bassist who died last month, and who also appeared in that cut short anecdote.

If you want to know why Hawley was getting an Olivier Award in the first place, a West End run of ‘Standing At The Sky’s Edge’ is now planned for next spring at London’s Gillian Lynne Theatre.



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