Mel Brooks, the creator of The Producers, has said he fears that the “the guys around” Donald Trump are more dangerous than the new US President himself.
Brooks, who was awarded the prestigious Fellowship at the Baftas on Sunday night, made his observation backstage at the star-studded ceremony in London.
Speaking after he was given the award by the Duke of Cambridge, the legendary Jewish comedian said of Mr Trump: “He just simply hasn’t reached Hitlerian proportions yet, he might get there.
“I’m not afraid of him, I don’t think he’s dangerous. I think he’s mostly an entertainer, a guy who wants audiences to love him.
“What I’m afraid of is all the guys around him, all the people who whisper in his ears, like the people who whispered in George W Bush’s ears and we got the Iraq War.
“I just hope Trump stays the egomaniac he is, listens to no-one and then we will all be safe. But if he believes these guys we are all in trouble.”
Brooks described his award from Bafta as “an august and singular honour”, adding: “I love the affection that comes with it.”
Earlier Simon Pegg had taken to the stage with Nathan Lane, who starred in The Producers, Mr Brooks’s hit film based around a Nazi musical - which proved a massive hit on Broadway.
‘This is the man that gave us singing and dancing Nazis, Scorsese doesn’t even do that. He gave us Hitler on ice, he gave us Hitler on dry land, he gave us Hitler on Broadway,” said Lane. “He’s definitely got a thing about Hitler.”
Pegg added: “I mean who doesn’t, right? That’s the thing about Hitler, they never tell you about the good stuff.”
Brooks said he is looking forward to putting on a theatrical production of his film Young Frankenstein in the capital. It will open at the Garrick Theatre later this year, after a run in Newcastle.
The 90 year-old said: “I am going to keep going until I’m dead. I have ideas and I am bringing to this very city a musical called Young Frankenstein, a musical comedy.”
“I think, modestly speaking, it will be sensational. It’s not that I care about the money but if you’re interested go by the Garrick. If you’re scalpers you will make a lot of money.”
Mel Brooks will be bringing a new production of his classic movie Young Frankenstein to the London stage in September 2017. To book tickets, click here.