Iraq hostage quip blasted

Billy Connolly has been roundly condemned for joking about the plight of British hostage Ken Bigley.

During his current run at London’s Hammersmith Apollo, the comic guiltily confessed that he wished the captors in Iraq “would just get on with it” and carry out their threat to behead him.

He said: "Perhaps I shouldn’t be saying this ... aren’t you the same as me, don’t you wish they would just get on with it ?"

The line has been met by jeers, and on Monday one fan shouted: "You’re talking about a man’s life, Billy." Connolly apparently responded with a four-letter expletive.

Connolly, 61, also made pointed comments about Bigley’s Thai wife, Sombat, saying: "What is it with him and that young Asian wife?"

Ken Bigley’s brother Paul said: “I don’t like his humour anyway. If you want to be entertained by a person of that calibre, by all means go and queue up in the rain.  That’s my comment; that’s all I’m going to say."

Bashir Maan of the Muslim Council of Britain, told The Scotsman: "That’s in rather terrible taste, especially when in their own way everyone is doing their bit to help ensure that Ken Bigley comes back safe and well.

 "This is not a situation that is light-hearted in any way. This comedian has gone too far by trying to make a joke out of a tough situation?"

The gag may have backfired among his fans, too. Derek Holt, who had four tickets to see Connolly later this month, told Chortle: "I refuse to go now, due to his unfortunate comments on Ken Bigley. Mr Connolly does not deserve my attention after making such a terrible comment."

Connolly’s management TicketyBoo have declined to comment on the incident.

>> Chortle's review of the show

Published: 6 Oct 2004