Jim quits resort over tourism row

Jim Davidson is to quit the seaside resort where he has performed for the past 14 years following a row with tourism chiefs.

The comic enraged councillors in Great Yarmouth after claiming in a Radio Times interview: "The seafront is full of overweight people in flip-flops and fat children of all colours and no class."

His comments provoked a predictable backlash - and now Davidson says he won't return after this summer season because he had been made to feel unwelcome

He told the Eastern Daily Press there was "fat chance" of him taking back his comments, and fuelled the row by adding: "You only have to look at all the fat birds round here dressed up like Britney Spears, but weighing 20 stone, with everything hanging out.

"Even asylum seekers that come to Yarmouth probably decide to go straight back. Things are that bad."

The paper today reports that Davidson threatened to pull out of last night's show just an hour before it was due to start after reading the condemnation of his comments, but eventually decided to go ahead.

Council leader Barry Coleman said: "He was the one who started slagging the town off and is now acting very childishly, just like someone who does not want to play any more.

"It seems that while he is prepared to throw insults at everybody else, he is not prepared to take any stick himself."

Davidson also revealed this week that he was close to bankruptcy after running up a huge tax bill, which he is now paying back at £30,000 a month.

Published: 29 Aug 2003