Dame Joan Collins brands William Shatner ‘a fool’ while criticising his epic space mission in Saturday’s upcoming episode of The Jonathan Ross Show.
Shatner, 90, made history earlier this month when he became the oldest man to meet space after rocketing up into the atmosphere in one of Amazon mogul Jeff Bezos‘ Blue Origin vessels.
But Joan, 88, is seemingly unamused by William’s mission as she tells Jonathan: ‘Let’s take care of this planet first before we start going off’.
Unimpressed: Dame Joan Collins brands William Shatner ‘a fool’ while criticising his epic space mission in Saturday’s upcoming episode of The Jonathan Ross Show
The actress, who appears on alongside Brian Cox, Rob Beckett and Alex Scott, adds: ‘Who wants to do that? No, absolutely not! Did you see Bill Shatner? He was in the air and they were turning him upside down.’
Echoing Collins’ sentiment, Succession star Cox, 75, says after being asked whether he would venture into space: ‘No, absolutely not. I think it’s ridiculous.’
The actor continues: ‘I remember watching [Sir Richard] Branson and [Jeff] Bezos going up for their 11 minutes or whatever… No, we do not need more spaceships, we’ve got enough crap flying around up there, we do not need any more.’
History: Shatner made history this month when he became the oldest man to meet space after rocketing up into the atmosphere in one of Amazon mogul Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin vessels
Thinking of the planet: But Joan, 88, is seemingly unamused by William’s mission as she tells Jonathan: ‘Let’s take care of this planet first before we start going off’
Great minds: Echoing Collins’ sentiment, Succession star Brian Cox, 75, adds after being asked whether he would venture into space: ‘No, absolutely not. I think it’s ridiculous’
Comedian Beckett, 35, offers a different perspective and admit she’d be up for it’.
The funnyman explains: ‘I’m up for it actually. It’d be a laugh for an afternoon.
‘I get that we probably shouldn’t… but it’s a lot of travelling just to get to the place where it takes off. I’ve got to do a long haul flight… if he was taking off near my house, I’d go.’
I’ll go! Comedian Rob Beckett, 35, offers a different perspective and admit ‘he’d be up for it’
Glamorous guest: Also appearing as a guest on this Saturday’s show will be a very glamorous Alex Scott
Host with the most: Host Jonathan Ross will quiz the A-listers (pictured with Saturday’s musical guest Duran Duran)
Beckett will add: ‘I wouldn’t travel for it, I don’t think. Is that lazy?’
Collins’ comments echo those of Prince William, who said of space travel after Shatner’s expedition: ‘We need some of the world’s greatest brains and minds fixed on trying to repair this planet, not trying to find the next place to go and live.
‘It really is quite crucial to be focusing on this [planet] rather than giving up and heading out into space to try and think of solutions for the future,’ the royal said, adding that he has ‘absolutely no interest’ in going to space, and questioning the carbon cost of space flights.
Firing back: Shatner fired back at Prince William’s criticism of the billionaire space race during an interview with Entertainment Tonight
Not a fan: Prince William criticised the race to leave Earth during an interview with BBC Newscast’s Adam Fleming at Kensington Palace
Defending his trip into outer space after hearing of the Duke’s criticism, Shatner told Entertainment Tonight: ‘He’s a lovely Englishman. He’s going to be king of England one day.
‘He’s a lovely, gentle, educated man, but he’s got the wrong idea.’
He elaborated: ‘The idea here is not to go, ”Yeah, look at me. I’m in space.” The landing that consumed all that… energy and people to take a look and go, ”Oh, look at that.” No,’ Shatner said.
‘I would tell the prince, and I hope the prince gets the message, this is a baby step into the idea of getting industry up there, so that all those polluting industries, especially, for example, the industries that make electricity… off of Earth.’
Watch The Jonathan Ross Show at 9:30pm on Saturday on ITV and ITV Hub.
Pictured: Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket blasting off on mission NS-18 carrying Star Trek actor Shatner and 3 other passengers for a suborbital 11-minute flight this month