WATCH: Downton Abbey star brilliantly blasts Boris Johnson on live TV

April Curtin

Dan Stevens left quite the sting in the tale here.

Dan Stevens has gone viral after his aptly-timed dig at Boris Johnson left viewers howling with laughter.

Stevens, arguably best known for his role as Matthew Crawley on Downton Abbey and the Beast in Beauty and the Beast, appeared on The One Show on Wednesday evening to talk about his new drama series Gaslit.

The show, also starring Julia Roberts, takes an in-depth look at the Watergate scandal from the 1970s surrounding former president Richard Nixon.

Sitting on the sofa in front of the millions watching at home, Stevens began to explain what the new drama was about – but in the end, it became clear his intentions were simply to sting Boris – big time.

When asked about the show’s take on the Nixon story, Stevens said:

“Well, what you’ve got is a criminal for a leader who is wrapped in a messy war, embroiled in a stupid scandal and surrounded by ambitious idiots and really should resign.”

He then paused for a second, before adding:

“I’m sorry, that’s the intro to Boris Johnson.”

*A One Show item introducing a new Nixon film*

Dan Stevens: “What you’ve got is a criminal for a leader who is wrapped in a messy war, embroiled in a stupid scandal and surrounded by ambitious idiots and really should resign … I’m sorry that’s the intro to Boris Johnson.” pic.twitter.com/8JPTQGCcQT

— Scott Bryan (@scottygb) April 13, 2022

Clips of the moment quickly blew up online, with Stevens trending throughout Thursday morning.

His swipe comes after UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak were fined after being found guilty of breaking the law and attending a party during lockdown.

The news, which came out on Tuesday, confirmed the PM’s wife Carrie Johnson had also received a fixed penalty notice.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CcQHLWYoLsR/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=201ea386-8f73-48ea-a7e5-b8c20214bb5e

Opposition parties are calling for Johnson and Sunak to resign but the pair have so far been backed by their fellow cabinet ministers.

Some Tory MPs who previously called for Johnson to go have now expressed support.

Only three Tory MPs have publicly said he should quit.

Johnson has since apologised but claimed that he did not realise he was breaking the rules at the time.

Sunak has also apologised but similarly appears to have rejected calls for him to quit.