Busta Rhymes praises ‘superstar’ Benny Hill as US rapper reveals himself as a VERY unlikely fan of the saucy British comedian – after discovering him during childhood holidays to Morecambe

Busta Rhymes has revealed he is a very unlikely fan of the late British comedian Benny Hill, who he called a ‘superstar’.

The American rapper, 52, explained how he discovered the funny man, whose provocative series The Benny Hill Show ran from 1955 to 1989, at the age of 11, while staying with his aunt Velma during a children’s holiday in Morecambe, Lancashire.

New York-born Busta, real name Trevor Smith, made the revelation while walking the red carpet at Sunday’s MTV EMAs in Manchester, where he was honored with the Global Icon Award.

He told BBC Radio 5 Live: ‘I went to karate school [in Morecambe] and we entered nightclubs illegally to make some money by breakdancing’.

‘Back then Boy George was cool, Wham! was cool, the shaggy haircut that was low on top and thick in the back, that used to be cool.’

Busta Rhymes, 52, has revealed he is a very unlikely fan of the late British comedian Benny Hill, who he called a ‘superstar’

The American rapper, 52, explained how he discovered the funny man (pictured 1975) at the age of 11 while staying with his aunt Velma during a children's holiday in Morecambe, Lancashire.

The American rapper, 52, explained how he discovered the funny man (pictured 1975) at the age of 11 while staying with his aunt Velma during a children’s holiday in Morecambe, Lancashire.

The Benny Hill Show, which consisted of short, often risqué sketches, was first broadcast in 1955 and ran until 1989

The Benny Hill Show, which consisted of short, often risqué sketches, was first broadcast in 1955 and ran until 1989

‘The Brit who was the superstar in our time was Benny Hill. Benny Hill was our favorite at the time, to this day I don’t think anyone is as funny or as charismatic as Benny Hill.”

Reminiscent of the holidays GQ in 2022 he said: ‘We didn’t live in England. My mother’s other sister, Aunt Velma, lived in Morecambe, England at the time, so we went there to spend two summers.

“When we went there one summer, I was 12, my brother was 8, so my aunt made sure we actually went to school in England. Regular school and then we also went to karate school.

“We were also doing break dancing which was so crazy that we ended up getting into break dancing in clubs as minors. And our cousins ​​were showing us around and they advertised us as TJ and Paul because my government name is Trevor Junior. We We actually still have memorabilia from that time, we have the flyers, a few newspaper clippings.’

The Benny Hill show, which consisted of short, often risqué sketches, saw more Britons tune in at the height of his fame than watch the moon landing.

The comedian suffered a mild heart attack in February 1992 and spent four weeks in hospital before dying three months later at the age of 68.

Taylor Swift dominated the winner’s board at the MTV European Music Awards on Sunday night, despite not attending the star-studded ceremony at Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena.

The Blank Space hitmaker, 34, who is about to embark on the final leg of her record-breaking Eras Tour Canada, won four gongs, including best artist, best American act and best live performer.

New York-born Busta, real name Trevor Smith, made the revelation while walking the red carpet at Sunday's MTV EMAs in Manchester, where he was honored with the Global Icon Award

New York-born Busta, real name Trevor Smith, made the revelation while walking the red carpet at Sunday’s MTV EMAs in Manchester, where he was honored with the Global Icon Award

He told BBC Radio 5 Live: 'I went to karate school [in Morecambe] and we went to nightclubs illegally to make some money breakdancing'

He told BBC Radio 5 Live: ‘I went to karate school [in Morecambe] and we went to nightclubs illegally to make some money breakdancing’

On the Benny Hill show, more Brits tuned in at the height of his fame than watched the moon landing

The Benny Hill show saw more Brits tune in at the height of its fame than watch the moon landing

The award for best video also went to Taylor ft. Post Malone for their hit Fortnight from her latest album The Tortured Poets Department.

Taylor missed the awards held in Britain when she attended her boyfriend Travis Kelce’s football game where his team, the Kansas City Chiefs, played the Denver Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium.

Elsewhere, the best song award went to Sabrina Carpenter for her smash hit Espresso from her Short n’ Sweet album.

Speaking before the event, Rita said: ‘I’m over the moon to be back with my MTV family hosting the EMAs for the third time!

‘The EMA stage has become a second home to me, and this year’s show in Manchester is going to be absolutely incredible!

‘We have a great line-up with music performances and many surprises in store. We’re all ‘crazy about it!’.”

She joined Maya Jama, Vick Hope and Jodie-Turner Smith in bringing the red carpet glam earlier in the evening.

MTV EMAs 2024: The WINNERS

BEST SONG

Ariana Grande – we can’t be friends (waiting for your love)

Benson Boone – Beautiful things

Beyoncé – TEXAS HOLD ‘EM

Billie Eilish – BIRDS OF A FEATHER

Chappell Roan – Good luck, honey!

Sabrina Carpenter – Espresso – WINNER

BEST VIDEO

Ariana Grande – we can’t be friends (waiting for your love)

Charli xcx-360

Eminem-Houdini

Kendrick Lamar – Not like us

LISA ft. Rosalía – NEW WOMAN

Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – Fortnight – WINNER

BEST ARTIST

Beyonce

Billie Eilish

PostMalone

RAYE

Sabrina Timmerman

Taylor Swift – WINNER

BEST COLLABORATION

Charli xcx & Billie Eilish – Guess with Billie Eilish

Future, Metro Boomin & Kendrick Lamar – Sun

Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars – Die with a smile

LISA ft. Rosalía – NEW WOMAN

Peso Pluma, Anitta – BELLAKEO

Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – Fortnight – WINNER

BEST NEW

Ayra Starr

Benson Boone – WINNER

Chappell Roan

LE SSERAPHIM

Teddy swims

The last dinner

Tyla

BEST POP

Ariana Grande – WINNER

Billie Eilish

Camila Cabello

Charli xcx

Dua Lipa

Sabrina Timmerman

Taylor Swift

BEST AFROBEATS

Asake

Ayra Starr

Burna boy

Rema

Tams

Tyla – WINNER

BEST ROCK

Bon Jovi

Cold play

Green day

Kings of Leon

Lenny Kravitz

Liam Gallagher – WINNER

The murderers

DEAR LATIN

Anita

Bad bunny

KAROL G

Peso Pluma – WINNER

Raw Alejandro

Shakira

BEST K-POP

Jimin – WINNER

Jung Kook

LE SSERAPHIM

LISA

NewJeans

Lost children

BEST ALTERNATIVE

Fontaines DC

Hozier

Imagine Dragons – WINNER

Lana Del Rey

Twenty-one pilots

YUNGBLUD

BEST ELECTRONIC

Calvin Harris – WINNER

David Guetta

Revelation

DJ Snake

Fred again..

Swedish House Mafia

BEST HIP-HOP

Central Cee

Eminem – WINNER

Kendrick Lamar

Megan Thee Stallion

Nicki Minaj

Travis Scott

BEST R&B

Travis Scott

Kehlani

SZA

Tinashe

Tyla – WINNER

GUARD

Victoria Monet

BEST LIVE

Adele

Cold play

Doja cat

RAYE

Taylor Swift – WINNER

Travis Scott

DEAR PUSH

Ayra Starr

Chappell Roan

Coco Jones

Flyana boss

Jessie Murph

Laufey

LE SSERAFIM – WINNER

Mark Ambor

Shaboozey

Teddy swims

The warning

Victoria Monet

BIGGEST FANS

Anita

Ariana Grande

Beyonce

Billie Eilish

Chappell Roan

Charli xcx

Katya Perry

LISA – WINNER

Nicki Minaj

Sabrina Timmerman

Shawn Mendes

Taylor Swift

MTV EMA 2024 BEST REGIONAL ACT NOMINEES

BEST UK & IRELAND ACT

Central Cee

Charli xcx

Pursuit and status

Dua Lipa

Hozier

RAYE – WINNER