Viewers have newfound respect for Ed Balls after he got tasered in his latest Trumpland episode
Must have taken a lot of... Balls
He became a national treasure after nailing Gangnam style on Strictly, and now Ed Balls has just earned another legion of fans – after being tasered on camera.
As part of his BBC2 documentary series Travels In Trumpland, the former Shadow Chancellor was shot with the weapon for five seconds in a mock initiation ceremony that is a tradition in the Louisiana police.
And, as Balls revealed in a recent tweet, “it really really hurts”.
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https://twitter.com/edballs/status/1025705814470942720
It wasn’t only the police department that applauded Balls’ bravery – viewers at home were also quick to praise the stunt…
https://twitter.com/TheScarletMan/status/1026205083116220420
https://twitter.com/BillyCasper5/status/1026200387353800709
https://twitter.com/JasJudge/status/1026200237092818944
…while others thought the moment required some political balance…
https://twitter.com/BabsHorton/status/1026201757372895232
But that wasn’t the only scene viewers congratulated Balls on. From being locked up for a night in jail while donning an orange jumpsuit, interviewing Americans obsessed with firearms, to ending up in a dance-off in a gay club, audiences were in full praise of his “outstanding journalism”.
https://twitter.com/Future_Cities/status/1026249893487239168
https://twitter.com/theodlhodl/status/1026213978765185024
https://twitter.com/ShepherdMia/status/1026210943921991680
https://twitter.com/RIchardPapworth/status/1026370636174712833
And the best bit? There's still one episode of Travels In Trumpland left to air. It won't feature Ed getting tasered, but will see him attending a Tea Party convention and crossing paths with a controversial pastor who believes prayer can lead to wealth. Classic Balls, in other words.
Travels in Trumpland with Ed Balls is on BBC2 at 9pm on Sunday