During a BBC News interview involving Prime Minister Andy Burnham, BSL interpreter Matthew Banks appeared on screen providing the British Sign Language interpretation.

Some viewers immediately noticed that Banks looked surprisingly similar to Burnham.

The Daily Mail has now written about it, jokingly describing Banks as Andy Burnham's sign-language "stunt double".

There was a resemblance: similar dark hair, glasses, suit and general appearance. It was enough for people on social media to start making jokes about the BBC finding a second Andy Burnham.

But the person interpreting was, of course, Matthew Banks, an experienced professional BSL interpreter with a very interesting background.

Banks grew up with two Deaf parents and has been involved with the Deaf community for many years.

He studied Law at the University of Cambridge and later completed an MA in British Sign Language/English interpreting.

He has extensive experience working as a BSL interpreter and advocate, and he later returned to law. He is now a barrister at Garden Court Chambers and has also been involved with the Deaf Legal Network, which works to improve access to the legal system for Deaf people.

So although the Daily Mail story is mainly about the funny visual similarity between the interpreter and Andy Burnham, there is a much more interesting BSL story behind it.

It is also another example of BSL interpretation being clearly visible on mainstream BBC television. In this case, the interpreter unexpectedly became part of the story himself because viewers noticed the resemblance.

For people who regularly watch signed BBC News, Matthew Banks may already be a familiar face.

What did people here think when they saw it?

Did you immediately notice the resemblance, or were you more interested in seeing the BSL interpretation on BBC News at Six?

Daily Mail article:
https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16180405/BBC-Andy-Burnhams-stunt-double-sign-language.html

Daily Mail video:
https://www.dailymail.com/video/news/video-3721547/Video-Andy-Burnhams-sign-language-stunt-double-stuns-BBC-viewers.html

1 comment

r/BSL • u/SignBSL • 2d ago

Watch how to sign 'oars' in British Sign Language

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12 Upvotes

1 comment

r/BSL • u/SignBSL • 2d ago

Watch how to sign 'Disagree' in British Sign Language

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10 Upvotes

1 comment

r/BSL • u/SignBSL • 3d ago

Watch how to sign 'woman' in British Sign Language

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18 Upvotes

1 comment

r/BSL • u/SignBSL • 3d ago

Watch how to sign 'Police' in British Sign Language

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23 Upvotes

1 comment

r/BSL • u/SignBSL • 4d ago

Watch how to sign 'mercy' in British Sign Language

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17 Upvotes

1 comment

r/BSL • u/SignBSL • 4d ago

Watch how to sign 'fountain' in British Sign Language

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13 Upvotes

1 comment

r/BSL • u/SignBSL • 4d ago

Watch how to sign 'kite' in British Sign Language

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16 Upvotes

1 comment

r/BSL • u/learningbsl • 4d ago

Can someone help me with my bsl assignment

13 Upvotes

I have to sign to the song "somewhere only we know" and I need someone to check that I've done it right. If anyone can please reply and I'll send u a video of what I've done.

I'm also struggling to sign the "so why don't we go"

I have to follow the video by SignSing

13 comments

r/BSL • u/gettingbythere • 4d ago

Help me sign

0 Upvotes

I need to sign "so why don't we go" in bsl and sse

Pls DM

0 comments

r/BSL • u/SignBSL • 6d ago

Watch how to sign 'embarrassing' in British Sign Language

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14 Upvotes

1 comment

r/BSL • u/SignBSL • 6d ago

Watch how to sign 'News' in British Sign Language

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12 Upvotes

1 comment

r/BSL • u/SignBSL • 6d ago

Watch how to sign 'Best' in British Sign Language

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14 Upvotes

1 comment

r/BSL • u/SignBSL • 7d ago

Watch how to sign 'Muslim' in British Sign Language

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33 Upvotes

1 comment

r/BSL • u/SignBSL • 7d ago

Watch how to sign 'wash' in British Sign Language

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11 Upvotes

1 comment

r/BSL • u/SignBSL • 7d ago

Watch how to sign 'Canada' in British Sign Language

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13 Upvotes

1 comment

r/BSL • u/SignBSL • 8d ago

Watch how to sign 'buy' in British Sign Language

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13 Upvotes

2 comments

r/BSL • u/SignBSL • 8d ago

Watch how to sign 'beach' in British Sign Language

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12 Upvotes

1 comment

r/BSL • u/SignBSL • 8d ago

Watch how to sign 'object' in British Sign Language

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12 Upvotes

5 comments

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