TV star Will Mellor has revealed the heartbreaking impact Britain’s riots chaos has had on his daughter, as he issued a passionate plea for people to ‘do better than this’.
The Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps actor called slammed unrest across the country as a ‘joke’ as he described how his daughter had been left scared to leave the house by the violence.
The 48-year-old – who is from Bredbury, in Stockport – questioned how far-right rioters cannot see that ‘all we are is people’, as he said their claims are ‘stupid’.
It comes as the country is bracing for a night of chaos, with 100 far-right protests and 30 counter-demonstrations planned across Britain.
Police vans are lining the streets in the biggest mobilisation of law enforcers since the 2011 riots, while hundreds of anti-racism counter-protesters have already turned out in Bristol, Birmingham, Brighton and several London boroughs.
The riots were sparked by misinformation fueled by Russian-linked fake news following a knife rampage that left three little girls, aged six, seven and nine, dead at a Taylor Swift holiday camp at Mellor’s home town.
Speaking as he went on a walk to ‘clear my head’, the soap star said: ‘I’m just sick of waking up to all this horrible, negative, hateful s***e on social media – mostly from faceless accounts that I am muting by the second – but it’s horrible to read and see and the news…
‘You know my daughter came to me the other day and she was scared about going out because of everything that’s going on the streets of England. That’s wrong man.
‘I mean how can we not all see that all we are is people. That’s all we are. The actions of a few don’t represent the rest.
‘There are bad eggs in every single culture and we need to sort that out but the only way we do that is by coming together as people.’
He continued: ‘Come on man. We can do better than this. It’s a joke.’
Gatherings are anticipated tonight in 41 of the 43 police force areas in England and Wales. A police source said: ‘Today is probably going to be the busiest day of the week, into the evening.’
Thugs have been using now-banned channels on the messaging app to threaten the lives of anti-racism campaigners, make sick slurs and exchange tips on how to ‘hood up’ – as police vowed to catch those inciting violence, even online.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Stephen Parkinson has said one case of alleged terrorism is ‘actively under consideration’ following the mayhem of recent days while the King is reported to have asked aides for frequent updates.
Resources are being shared around the country as forces respond to intelligence, with the Metropolitan Police understood to be sending some officers to Manchester while others in the south east are also travelling to support colleagues in north east and north west forces.
Brits rallied behind Mellor as they listened to him, as they denounced rioters bringing violence to Britain’s streets.
One, comedy club owner Alan Merryweather, said: ‘So many people like Will Mellor talking sense. Listen to him rather than the hate mongers.’
Another, called Chris, added: ‘Well said. We need more people saying this and the one per cent rioting don’t represent the country.
‘The majority are nice people who don’t care what religion or colour someone is.’
Professor Christopher Painter, who is associated with the School of Social Sciences at Birmingham City University, commented: ‘Disarming the far right of any credibility is as simple as this!’
And another fan said: ‘I already love him as an actor, but I like him even more now. Absolutely, 100% agree.’