This actor’s thread about burkas went viral because it feels like an antidote to Boris Johnson

As criticism continues to grow over Boris Johnson’s description of women in burkas as ‘bank robbers’ and ‘letter boxes’ a thread by actor Stephen McGann gained momentum all of its own because it feels like an antidote to the former foreign secretary.

Here’s what the Call The Midwife actor had to say about it.

1.

THREAD: When I see a Burqa, I never think of a letterbox, or a bank robber. I think of a young woman. Standing on a beach in South Wales. Alone. Far from home. Thinking. Feeling. /1

— Stephen McGann (@StephenMcGann) August 7, 2018

2.

To explain. Some years ago, I was asked to deliver a week of talks on communication skills to a financial company in the Middle East. /2

— Stephen McGann (@StephenMcGann) August 7, 2018

3.

I was selected because actors, though deficient in many skills important to finance, are mercifully considered knowledgeable in the art of humans communicating with humans – a facility, unsurprisingly, valued by intelligent companies. /3

— Stephen McGann (@StephenMcGann) August 7, 2018

4.

So for a week I found myself halfway up a skyscraper in a petrochemically-rich Gulf state, speaking to very smart Muslim staff with impeccable English about Stanislavski, body language and personal disclosure. /4

— Stephen McGann (@StephenMcGann) August 7, 2018

5.

Now, I was told that one of these days would be for women staff only. The women would mostly be wearing Niqab; a form of black veil that Boris Johnson disparagingly called a ‘letterbox’ – only their eyes visible. /5

— Stephen McGann (@StephenMcGann) August 7, 2018

6.

It was initially an alarming prospect for someone about to teach communication skills. How does one impart the art of human communication to people who one couldn’t fully see? /6

— Stephen McGann (@StephenMcGann) August 7, 2018

7.

As it happens, it was by far my favourite day of the whole week, and a lesson for my whole life. These women were just fantastic! Friendly – gossipy – ribald – thoughtful – hilarious at times. /7

— Stephen McGann (@StephenMcGann) August 7, 2018

8.

Whereas the men had been smart but cagey and quite hard to crack, the women entered into all the exercises with real enthusiasm. Warm and clever. /8

— Stephen McGann (@StephenMcGann) August 7, 2018

9.

One of the exercises involved personal disclosure – sharing a part of one’s own life experiences with the group to encourage deeper communication. Significant moments, places where one had felt most happy. /9

— Stephen McGann (@StephenMcGann) August 7, 2018