Stephen Fry had cutting words for the winner of the Bafta Award for costume design – although he has insisted he was just “joshing”.

Jenny Beavan, who won the prize for Mad Max: Fury Road, took to the stage in trousers, a leather jacket and a scarf.

After she collected the award, the awards host quipped: “Only one of the great cinematic costume designers would come to an awards dressed as a bag lady.”

Stephen Fry (Ian West/PA Wire)
Stephen Fry (Ian West/PA Wire)

The dig drew mixed reactions from the audience, with some booing.

But Stephen has tweeted a few words of defence, saying: “She’s a dear friend and she got it. Derrr”

He added: “Will all you sanctimonious f****** f*** the f*** off Jenny Beavan is a friend and joshing is legitimate. Christ I want to leave the planet.”

The former QI presenter went on to retweet the views of those that supported his sense of humour.

Bafta winner Jenny had accepted the Bafta with the words: “I live, I die, I live again,” before praising the directors she had worked with throughout her career.