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Entertainment

22nd Jan 2019

Danny Dyer gives emotional speech after winning Best Serial Drama Performance at the National Television Awards

Wayne Farry

danny dyer

If you don’t love Danny Dyer, you’re probably in the minority

From his performances in British gangster films, to his documentary series Danny Dyer’s Deadliest Men and his current starring role in Eastenders, the 41-year-old has slowly but surely become a much loved figure in British culture.

On Tuesday night that popular appeal transformed into critical success as Dyer won the award for Best Serial Drama Performance for his role as Mick Carter in the long-running BBC soap.

Upon receiving the award, Dyer appeared as shocked as anyone and was even brought to tears before, inevitably, swearing and then dedicating the award to one of the most important figures in British drama history.

“I can’t believe that, wow, thank you,” he said as he walked onto the stage.

“I want to thank all of my EastEnders mob over there. I love you so much, honestly. You’re like my brothers and sisters.

“I just want to say to all you young kids living out there in poverty, who don’t think they’ve got a right to dream, or hope or believe – do not let where you come from define where you’re going in life. You can be whoever you want to be.”

It was at this point that Dyer became emotional and revealed that he was dedicating his award to the late Harold Pinter, the influential British writer and playwright.

“I want to dedicate this award to Harold Pinter, a man I loved very, very much and I miss him,” he said.

“He believed in me when no-one else did.”

The mention of Pinter clearly made Dyer emotional, and he ended his speech with a few timely swear words.

He said: “I’m getting all f***ing emotional, I don’t know what’s the matter with me, for f***’s sake.”