Tony Blair a "comic genius"
After his star turn for Comic Relief, prime minister Tony Blair has been hailed as a "comic genius" by co-star Catherine Tate.
"He is one of the finest comic actors of his generation," the actress joked in an interview on BBC Breakfast.
Mr Blair joined in a sketch at No 10 with Catherine's bolshy schoolgirl character Lauren as part of the Red Nose Day fundraiser, during which he stole her catchphrase "Am I bovvered?"
It even led to questions in the House of Commons as, referring to recent criticism of Chancellor Gordon Brown, the Conservative MP for Hornchurch, James Brokenshire, asked Mr Blair: "Isn't the prime minister bothered?"
To which Mr Blair quickly replied: "Fortunately, one of the things I haven't had to be bothered about in the last 10 years is the running of the economy."
But Catherine said of the double act: "I wasn't nervous because I don't particularly get nervous.
"I'm too busy thinking about what I've got to say - but there was a sense of occasion about it. We were all thinking: 'This is history'."
The prime minister's comedic efforts have helped the Comic Relief DVD become the fastest selling pre-order on Amazon's online store.
