Busta Rhymes has revealed himself to be a very unlikely fan of the late British comedian Benny Hill, who he branded a ‘superstar’.

The US rapper, 52, explained how he discovered the funnyman, who’s saucy series The Benny Hill Show ran from 1955 to 1989, at the age of 11 while staying with his aunt Velma on childhood holidays 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 honoured with the Global Icon Award. 

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

‘At those times, Boy George was cool, Wham! was cool, the shag haircut that’s low up-top and thick in the back, that used to be cool’. 

Busta Rhymes, 52, has revealed himself to be a very unlikely fan of the late British comedian Benny Hill, who he branded a ‘superstar’

The US rapper, 52, explained how he discovered the funnyman (pictured 1975) at the age of 11 while staying with his aunt Velma on childhood holidays in Morecambe, Lancashire

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

‘The British guy that used to be the superstar back in our days was Benny Hill. Benny Hill was our favourite back then, to this day, I don’t think anybody is as funny or as charismatic as Benny Hill.’

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

Read More The Fastest Milkman in España: Rise and fall of Benny Hill… as late British comic becomes huge hit in Spain where repeats of his slapstick shows are being watched by millions of new fans

“One summer when we went down there I was 12, my brother was eight, so my aunt made sure that we actually went to school in England. Regular school and then we went to karate school too.

“We also were on some breakdancing that was so crazy, we ended up actually getting work to breakdance in clubs as minors. And our cousins used to run us around and they used to advertise us as TJ and Paul because my government name is Trevor Junior. We actually got memorabilia still from then, we got the flyers, a couple of newspaper clippings’.

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

The comedian suffered a mild heart attack in February 1992 and spent four weeks in hospital a month before his death three months later aged, 68. 

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

The Blank Space hitmaker, 34, who is about to begin the final leg of her record-breaking Eras Tour in Canada, won four gongs, including Best Artist, Best US Act and Best Live Artist.

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 honoured with the Global Icon Award

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

The Benny Hill show saw at the height of his fame more Britons tuning in than to the moon landing

The Best Video award also went to Taylor ft. Post Malone for their hit Fortnight form her latest album The Tortured Poets Department. 

Taylor missed the awards held in the UK as she was attending her boyfriend Travis Kelce’s football game where his team the Kansas City Chiefs played against 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 ahead of the event host Rita said: ‘I’m over the moon that I get to be back with my MTV family hosting the EMAs for the third time!

‘The EMAs stage has become like another home for me, and this year’s show in Manchester is going to be absolutely incredible!

‘We’ve got an amazing lineup of music performances and plenty of surprises in store. We’re all ‘mad fer it!’.’

She joined the likes of Maya Jama, Vick Hope and Jodie-Turner Smith bringing the red carpet glamour earlier in the night. 

MTV EMAs 2024: The WINNERS

BEST SONG

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

Benson Boone – Beautiful Things

Beyoncé – TEXAS HOLD ‘EM

Billie Eilish – BIRDS OF A FEATHER

Chappell Roan – Good Luck, Babe!

Sabrina Carpenter – Espresso – WINNER

 

BEST VIDEO

Ariana Grande – we can’t be friends (wait 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

Beyoncé

Billie Eilish

Post Malone

RAYE

Sabrina Carpenter

Taylor Swift – WINNER 

 

BEST COLLABORATION

Charli xcx & Billie Eilish – Guess featuring Billie Eilish

Future, Metro Boomin & Kendrick Lamar – Like That

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 SSERAFIM

Teddy Swims

The Last Dinner Party

Tyla

 

BEST POP

Ariana Grande – WINNER 

Billie Eilish

Camila Cabello

Charli xcx

Dua Lipa

Sabrina Carpenter

Taylor Swift

 

BEST AFROBEATS

Asake

Ayra Starr

Burna Boy

Rema

Tems

Tyla – WINNER 

 

BEST ROCK

Bon Jovi

Coldplay

Green Day

Kings of Leon

Lenny Kravitz

Liam Gallagher – WINNER 

The Killers

 

BEST LATIN

Anitta

Bad Bunny

KAROL G

Peso Pluma – WINNER 

Rauw Alejandro

Shakira

 

BEST K-POP

Jimin – WINNER 

Jung Kook

LE SSERAFIM

LISA

NewJeans

Stray Kids

BEST ALTERNATIVE

Fontaines D.C.

Hozier

Imagine Dragons – WINNER

Lana Del Rey

Twenty One Pilots

YUNGBLUD

 

BEST ELECTRONIC

Calvin Harris – WINNER 

David Guetta

Disclosure

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 

USHER

Victoria Monét

 

BEST LIVE

Adele

Coldplay

Doja Cat

RAYE

Taylor Swift – WINNER 

Travis Scott

 

BEST PUSH

Ayra Starr

Chappell Roan

Coco Jones

Flyana Boss

Jessie Murph

Laufey

LE SSERAFIM – WINNER 

Mark Ambor

Shaboozey

Teddy Swims

The Warning

Victoria Monét

 

BIGGEST FANS

Anitta

Ariana Grande

Beyoncé

Billie Eilish

Chappell Roan

Charli xcx

Katy Perry

LISA – WINNER 

Nicki Minaj

Sabrina Carpenter

Shawn Mendes

Taylor Swift

 

MTV EMA 2024 BEST REGIONAL ACT NOMINEES

BEST UK & IRELAND ACT

Central Cee

Charli xcx

Chase & Status

Dua Lipa

Hozier

RAYE – WINNER