Olivia Colman had Radio 1 listeners in suspense this week when she joined the show, while Paul Rudd made a special guest appearance.
The 49-year-old Crown actress managed to pull off a convincing Welsh accent when she called Greg James’ breakfast show, where Paul helped out with listeners’ problems during an ‘Agony Ant-Man segment’.
Pretending to be a fan with a dilemma, she jokingly scolded the 53-year-old Hollywood actor for not telling her he was visiting the UK.
Calling ‘anonymously’, she asked: ‘What would you do if you had a close friend of over 20 years who doesn’t live in England but came? And not only did he not tell you he was visiting, he went on a radio show.
Paul began to piece together the similarities in the caller’s story when he realized she was talking about him, and host Greg couldn’t help but laugh.
Got it: Paul Rudd was red-faced after being called by longtime girlfriend Olivia Colman while performing on Radio 1 this week
Good job: The Crown actress, 49, managed to pull off a convincing Welsh accent while calling into the show and jokingly berated the actor for not telling her he was visiting the UK
The actor is currently in London for the launch of his new Marvel film, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, which premiered earlier this week.
And when he appeared on Radio 1, he started a segment called “Agony Ant-Man” to help listeners with their dilemmas.
But caller number four had an ulterior motive, as it was actually his girlfriend Olivia, who is from Norfolk and lives in the UK.
Calling in a fake Welsh accent, she began: “Hi Paul, I’m a huge fan so I wanted to pick your mind. What would you do if you had a really good buddy for twenty years?
‘This friend doesn’t live in England, but he came to England and didn’t tell you about it. And then not only didn’t he tell you about it, he got on a radio show. What would you do?’
Paul’s eyes instantly lit up with fear as he put the pieces together, just letting out a giggle and saying, “Oh my god, oh no.”
‘I know! Would you be offended?’ examined Olivia.
In an attempt to defuse the situation, Paul joked: “Personally, if it’s me? Absolutely not, I tend to vote for everyone when in doubt.’
Oh oh! Paul’s eyes instantly lit up with fear as he put the pieces together, while she spoke of a “friend” who hadn’t told her he was visiting the UK, just let out a giggle and said: “Oh my god, oh no. “
Revealed: As Olivia started laughing and breaking character, she revealed her identity – with Greg asking how the pair knew each other
Closing: Paul shared that he and Olivia (pictured together in 2019) go “way back” after starring in a play together over 20 years ago
Catching Olivia off-guard, she burst out laughing as Paul repeated “Oh God.”
“Caller number four, please reveal yourself,” said host James, before Olivia Paul said who it really was.
Shocked by her convincing performance, Paul said, “My god, that’s so good, you really know every accent.”
During the call, Olivia noted that she and the actor have been friends for “over twenty years,” and the couple explained how they knew each other.
When Greg asked where they met and how the friendship began, Paul said, “Oh we’re going back, we’re really going back. Gone, God, how many years?’
“For over twenty years we did a play together and Paul came and stayed on the floor of our rubbish flat in South London and came to Sunday lunch and stuff and yeah,” explained Olivia.
Next: “Well, Paul was right in the game and I had about two lines I think. So I was listening to the breakfast show like I always do (because I love you Greg James) and I heard that Paul Rudd is going to do Agony Ant-Man and I was like, “WHAT?” and so I emailed Greg and said, “Would it be okay to prank Paul?” and he said, “Damn, yeah.”
Fans of the show loved actress Olivia’s prank, as one commented on Instagram: “A legend from both sides of the pond.”
While stars like Alan Carr, Russell T. Davies and Chris Ramsey all laughed too.
Busy: Paul is currently in the UK to promote his new film Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, which premiered in London earlier this week (pictured with Greg James during the show)