Comedian Akmal Saleh reveals Richard Wilkins’ awkward blunder

Comedian Akmal Saleh outed the Nine star for his reported gaffe on The Project, leaving the hosts in stitches.

Akmal Saleh has left The Project panel in stitches after revealing an awkward moment he once shared with Richard Wilkins.

The Egyptian-born comedian was a guest on Ten’s news and current affairs program on Monday, and explained that Nine’s veteran entertainment journalist had once mistaken him for Anh Do, the Vietnamese-Australian media personality and painter.

“Recently I was on one of those morning shows, the Today show,” Saleh began.

“I think it was the Today show with one of the regular guests, I won’t mention his name … but it could have been Richard Wilkins, the entertainment reporter.

“He comes up to me, ‘mate, I am a huge fan of yours. I love that show you do on TV’.”

Saleh shared the story on The Project. Picture: Channel 10

Wilkins appeared to mix him up with Anh Do. Picture: Channel 10

Saleh added that he’d asked what show he meant, prompting Wilkins to respond it was the one “where you paint a celebrity” – clearly referencing Anh Do’s ABC program, Anh Do’s Brush With Fame.

“We’re not the same race!” Saleh pointed out, as the panel erupted in laughter.

“He might as well have come up to me and said, ‘Are you Kitty Flanagan?’ Yes, I’ve let myself go.”

He went on to joke that he didn’t want to “disappoint” Wilkins, so told him: “I’ll have you on the show next.”

Ahn Do. Picture: Supplied

Anh Do’s Brush With Fame featured a host of well-known Australians across its six seasons, with many prompted to bare their soul (and shed plenty of tears) in the safe and creative environment.

“We film the show over two to four hours, and so the guest just sits there and chats for that time,” Do told Who magazine in 2018.

“Over three hours of having a yarn, I’m bound to get some good stuff. I’ll put it down to that.

“There’s no audience there – my guest doesn’t have to perform, there’s no pressure. It’s a very relaxed setting.”

In 2020, after being inundated with questions about it from fans, an ABC spokesman finally set the record straight on what happens to the celebrity portraits once they’re finished.

“It’s up to them what they do with the portrait,” the representative said.

Originally published as Comedian Akmal Saleh reveals Richard Wilkins’ awkward blunder