In the world of live television, anything can happen – from unexpected technical glitches to the occasional slip of the tongue. But sometimes, the most memorable moments come from a simple case of mistaken identity, as was hilariously revealed by Akmal Saleh on The Project.
During his appearance on Ten’s program, the Egyptian-born comedian recounted an awkward but hilarious encounter with Richard Wilkins. Saleh, known for his sharp wit and engaging storytelling, set the scene for the panel and viewers at home by retelling the story of one of his recent appearances on the Today show.
‘I think it was the Today show with one of the regular guests, I won’t mention his name… but it could have been Richard Wilkins, the entertainment reporter,’ Saleh jokingly began.
‘He comes up to me, ‘Mate, I am a huge fan of yours. I love that show you do on TV’.’
The 60-year-old comedian said he then inquired which show the television presenter was referring to. Without missing a beat, Wilkins mentioned the one ‘where you paint a celebrity’ – a clear mix-up with Anh Do’s popular ABC program, Anh Do’s Brush With Fame.
The panel couldn’t contain their laughter as Saleh jested, ‘We’re not the same race! He might as well have come up to me and said, ‘Are you Kitty Flanagan?’ Yes, I’ve let myself go.’
Continuing his story, Saleh shared that he did not want to ‘disappoint’ Wilkins at the time so he just responded, ‘I’ll have you on the show next.’
Anh Do’s Brush With Fame, the show at the center of Wilkins’ mix-up, has been a heartwarming and insightful series where Do paints a portrait of his guests while interviewing them.
The show’s unique format has captivated audiences for six seasons, with many viewers curious about the fate of the completed artworks. In response to fan inquiries, an ABC spokesperson clarified in 2020 that celebrity guests are free to decide what to do with their portraits once they’re finished.
As for Akmal Saleh, his story was a testament to his comedic timing and ability to turn an awkward situation into a moment of levity. His story is also proof that celebrities make mistakes, too.
We’d love to hear from our readers at YourLifeChoices – have you ever been mistaken for someone else in a hilarious way? Or perhaps you’ve been on the other side, mixing up people in a moment you wish you could take back?
Share your stories in the comments below and let’s find the humour in our human errors together!
What a pity YourLifeChoices uses American spelling instead of English.
Anh Do’s Brush With Fame, the show at the center of Wilkins’ mix-up …
I find this quite offensive.
I agree 100%. It’s awful to see “centre” misspelled.