Kirstie Allsopp says call to BAN World Book Day costumes is 'lazy b****cks'


Kirstie Allsopp has ranted against calls from a leading journalist to ban World Book Day costumes to save the embarrassment of kids from poorer families.

The Location Location Location presenter took to Twitter to slam Financial Times journalist Stephen Bush for suggesting that the annual event where children dress up as book characters is ‘homework for parents (which should be banned)’.

Bush also said the occasion intended to promote literacy in children is a ‘way to highlight who in the class is poor’. 

Allsopp, the daughter of a property baron, hit back and called Bush’s take ‘lazy b****cks’ and said she had never ‘spent a penny’ on World Book Day – asking how expensive it would be to make a child look like Stig of the Dump.

Financial Times journalist Stephen Bush suggested that the annual event where children dress up as book characters is 'homework for parents (which should be banned)'.

Financial Times journalist Stephen Bush suggested that the annual event where children dress up as book characters is ‘homework for parents (which should be banned)’.

Allsopp, the daughter of a property baron, hit back and called Bush's take 'lazy b****cks'

Allsopp, the daughter of a property baron, hit back and called Bush’s take ‘lazy b****cks’

Kirstie Allsopp comes from a wealthy background and being the daughter of Charles Allsopp, 6th Baron Hindlip.

Stephen Bush grew up in Bethnal Green and attended a state comprehensive school before Balliol College, Oxford

Kirstie Allsopp comes from a wealthy background and being the daughter of Charles Allsopp, 6th Baron Hindlip whereas Stephen Bush grew up in Bethnal Green and attended a state comprehensive school before Baliol College, Oxford

Bush tweeted: ‘It’s me, the World Book Day grinch, once again complaining that World Book Day costumes are a) homework for parents (which should be banned), and b) another way to highlight who in the class is poor (which should be banned). 

The property show presenter retorted: ‘This is just lazy bollocks.

‘#WorldBookDay requires only imagination and certainly no expense.

‘I’m as rich as Croesus and spoil my kids, but I’ve never spent a penny on World book day.

‘How hard is it to make a child look like Gansta granny, Stig of the Dump or Harry Potter?’

Allsopp’s intervention angered the Prime Minister’s sister, journalist Rachel Johnson, who replied: I’ve got to hand it to you Kirstie – on the trembling lip of Armageddon you find the energy to pick a fight with Stephen about World Book Day.’

Others said Allsopp was out of touch with regular people – coming from a wealthy background and being the daughter of Charles Allsopp, 6th Baron Hindlip.

The presenter is reportedly worth around £16 million and earns £500,000 a year from her presenting gigs.

One user wrote: ‘Kirstie – I was at work until 8, having begun at 8. I’m exhausted, my kids are worn down, we haven’t the energy or imagination. They both went as muggles. Sorry.’

Another said: ‘It costs money. Not everyone has stuff lying around. Plus, after a 40hr week, the usual school/house stuff, costume making is not my idea of downtime.’

World Book Day is a charity event held on the first Thursday in March annually.

During the event, every child in full-time education in the UK is given a voucher to be spent on books; the event was first celebrated in the United Kingdom in 1995 and many dress up as their favourite book characters to celebrate. 

Stephen Bush grew up in Bethnal Green and attended a state comprehensive school before Balliol College, Oxford.

Twitter users said Allsopp was out of touch with regular people - coming from a wealthy background

Twitter users said Allsopp was out of touch with regular people – coming from a wealthy background

His background is a particular contrast to Allsopp who was privately educated and is entitled to use the honorific ‘The Honourable Kirstie Allsopp’ due to her father’s title.

Allsopp was criticised after an interview she gave for The Sunday Times appeared to blame young people for not being able to afford to buy a home because they spent too much money on Netflix subscriptions and gym memberships.

Despite the fierce debate, parents have stilled delighted in showing their children’s costumes on Thursday.

Costumes ranged from the classic Harry Potter costume to more inventive attire such as one girl dressed as former Everton goalkeeper Neville Southall.

Laura, from Oxon, shared a picture of her 13-year-old son dressed as Joyce from Richard Osman's The Thursday Murder Club and even got a mention from the author himself who said: 'That's wonderful! Please say hi from me'

Dave, from Manchester, dressed up his daughter as Welsh footballer Neville Southall, who released autobiography Here We Go in 2016

Laura, from Oxon, shared a picture of her 13-year-old son dressed as Joyce from Richard Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club and even got a mention from the author himself who said: ‘That’s wonderful! Please say hi from me’ 

Katie, from London, shared a picture of her daughter Summer, nine, showing off her magic skills dressed as Harry Potter from J. K. Rowling's famous series

Katie, from London, shared a picture of her daughter Summer, nine, showing off her magic skills dressed as Harry Potter from J. K. Rowling’s famous series 

Jonathan, from the South East, shared a picture of his teacher partner dressed up as Mr Toad from  The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

Jonathan, from the South East, shared a picture of his teacher partner dressed up as Mr Toad from  The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

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