A year has gone by since pop legend George Michael passed away (yes, really), and there was a tribute to the singer on today’s This Morning.
Former Spice Girl Geri Horner had invited a bunch of her showbiz friends – including Rylan Clark-Neal – into her luxury Oxfordshire home to join her for a rendition of the Wham! classic Last Christmas.
However, viewers were left unimpressed, describing the segment as “utter guff” and claiming that George would be “rolling in his grave”.
George Michael died of ‘natural causes’ on Christmas Day last year. He was just 53 years old.
And as a long-time friend of the superstar, Geri, 45, will have been as devastated as anyone.
To prove that point, she gathered together some of her celebrity pals, including Rylan and vocal group Vadé – who won Sky One series Sing: Ultimate A Cappella – to perform Wham!’s iconic festive tune.
With a log fire roaring in the background, and Rylan cradling Geri’s toddler son Monty (her daughter Bluebell was there, too), we thought it was pretty cute and cosy.
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However, some viewers seemed to think it was more Alan Partridge than partridge in a pear tree, and they took to Twitter to berate the rendition.
One viewer mocked: “I think George is rolling in his grave, bless him. What a way to destroy a classic.”
Another added: “What was that utter guff on #thismorning? On tea break at work and they had some [expletive] singing of Last Christmas on.”
A third chipped in: “Sorry, I loved George Michael as much as the next guy, but that’s just cringe!”
And one critic simply said: “Vomit-inducing.”
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Geri also took the opportunity to weigh in on the ‘memorial’ debate that’s been raging between George’s fans and his former Neighbours.
While the former have made a shrine out of his old garden with hundreds of comments and pictures, nearby residents reckon the makeshift memorial is an “eye-sore” and want something more permanent erected.
Geri told Eamonn and Ruth: “What I do know is George loved his fans and he really cared about his fans, so I really hear that they want to celebrate him and rejoice in him.
“But equally, you’ve got to respect the family, and he cared about his neighbours and liked to keep things simple.
“So perhaps there’s a compromise of pleasing everybody… If there’s something to be done, possibly look at Abbey Road Studios or a studio in north London. Maybe a plaque… something simple and understated.”