But E4 vote ends in chaos

Scott Capurro has become the first comic to be evicted from the Kings Of Comedy house.

But stand-up turned to farce on eviction night of the E4 reality show, when the phone lines set up to poll viewers votes failed to work.

Instead, Capurro’s fate was sealed by the studio audience.

The final showdown was between the gay San Franciscan comic and veteran old-school stand-up Stan Boardman.

Boothby Graffoe, Mick Miller and David Copperfield had previously secured their stay in the Bristol house after scoring highest for their performances throughout the week.

Tonight the remaining five performed just three minutes of their own material, with the three leaders being permitted to save one of their housemates.

Copperfield saved Irish stand-up Andrew Maxwell; Graffoe rescued newcomer Ava Vidal and Miller opted to keep Glaswegian Janey Godley.

Host Russell Brand then opened the phone lines, giving viewers five minutes to vote between Boardman and Capurro.

But after the commercial break, he revealed the problem with the lines – and opened them again for another three minutes.

Again, the system failed, and it was left to a show of hands among those in the audience to save Boardman, 28 votes to 14.

The rest of the contestants return to the house on Monday. Meanwhile, highlights of the past week’s shows will be broadcast on Channel 4 tomorrow (Friday) at 10.30pm.

>> For Chortle's run-down on all the contestants

Published: 7 Oct 2004