'What kind of interview is this?' William Shatner calls Ben Shepherd 'Neils' and mocks questions in VERY awkward GMB appearance

As Captain Kirk, he encountered vicious reptilian aliens, ruthless Klingons and strange vampire clouds. 

But it seems nothing quite prepared Star Trek actor William Shatner for an interview on Good Morning Britain. 

The 85-year-old Star Trek actor's awkward appearance had viewers cringing over their breakfasts as he mistakenly called host Ben Shepherd 'Neils' and mocked his questions.

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Is this Neils? William Shatner seemed a little confused at the beginning of an interview with Good Morning Britain on Thursday which suffered from technical difficulties 

Is this Neils? William Shatner seemed a little confused at the beginning of an interview with Good Morning Britain on Thursday which suffered from technical difficulties 

But after William discovered he was in fact talking to Ben and co-host Kate Garraway, he was unimpressed.

'Neils isn't here? They told me Neils was here,' he declared. 'I'm getting out of this. What kind of interview is this?' 

The interview had begun badly, with technical issues meaning the Star Trek actor had to speak to the studio hosts over a mobile phone where he often struggled to hear the questions properly.   

Awkward moments: Ben Shepherd and Kate Garraway were left trying to salvage a very uncomfortable chat

Awkward moments: Ben Shepherd and Kate Garraway were left trying to salvage a very uncomfortable chat

Enterprise: William was speaking to the duo from Birmingham where he is promoting the 50th anniversary of Star Trek 

Enterprise: William was speaking to the duo from Birmingham where he is promoting the 50th anniversary of Star Trek 

'Are we on the air?' asked William speaking from a mocked up USS Enterprise in Birmingham where he is promoting the 50th anniversary of Star Trek at a convention taking place all weekend.

'This primitive place! I'm among savages. Where am I?' he declared. 

He remained unimpressed when Kate and Ben asked him his favourite Star Trek episode. 

'That is a very bizarre question. Did you do research on that?' before adding sarcastically; 'No I've never been asked that before.'

Unimpressed: William dismissed Kate and Ben's line of questions which they had to explain came from fans

Unimpressed: William dismissed Kate and Ben's line of questions which they had to explain came from fans

Lovely to chat: William came across as rather rude in the interview 

'That is a bizarre question': Ben and Kate asked the actor about his favourite Star Trek episode

'That is a bizarre question': Ben and Kate asked the actor about his favourite Star Trek episode

Ben and Kate were forced to clarify that the questions had in fact been posed by Star Trek fans.  

Things got even worse when the actor was quizzed on a cameo appearance in the new Star Trek films where Chris Pine has taken on the role of James Kirk.

Believing his answer had not been understood by the hosts he declared: 'You have no idea what I'm talking about, do you?'

No more questions: Things got even worse when the actor was quizzed on a cameo appearance in the new Star Trek films where Chris Pine has taken on the role of James Kirk

No more questions: Things got even worse when the actor was quizzed on a cameo appearance in the new Star Trek films where Chris Pine has taken on the role of James Kirk

Beam me up Scottie: Ben declared he needed a drink following the chat 

Beam me up Scottie: Ben declared he needed a drink following the chat 

Somewhat rudely, he signed off by saying: 'Lovely to chat to you... if that's what it was.' 

The camera then flashed back to the studio where the a flustered Ben joked: 'I need a drink.'

'Brutal,' Kate added. 

Across the universe:  Shatner as Captain Kirk in the 1960s Star Trek TV series alongside Nichelle Nichols as Uhura, Deforest Kelley as Dr McCoy and Leonard Nimoy as Spock

Across the universe:  Shatner as Captain Kirk in the 1960s Star Trek TV series alongside Nichelle Nichols as Uhura, Deforest Kelley as Dr McCoy and Leonard Nimoy as Spock


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