Boos for 'sick' gag

Dave Longley was booed as he left the stage in Liverpool over the weekend linking the missing four-year-old with murdered 11-year-old Rhys Jones.

He immediately apologised for going over the line, but upset audience members took their complaints to the local paper, which branded the joke ‘sick’.

After ascertaining that the audience at the Comedy Central club night was predominantly comprised of Liverpool FC supporters, 28-year-old Longley made a joke referring to the fact both youngsters were pictured wearing Everton shirts.

One audience member told the Liverpool Daily Post: ‘Although I’m all for comedic licence and freedom of speech, I and the rest of the audience was disgusted. The comic was, to the credit of all Liverpool FC fans, booed from the stage.’

Another punter, Alison Pritchard, said: ‘He started off really funny and seemed confident. Then he told the joke. Afterwards the whole place went silent and everyone was just looking at each other thinking, “Did he actually just say that?” Then people booed until he got off stage.’

A third audience member told Chortle: ‘I think he is one sick bastard. Bar him.’

The furore comes after Patrick Kielty was forced to apologise after making jokes about the McCann case in Dublin last week.

And Chortle has unconfirmed reports that a bottle was thrown at one comic in a Birmingham club for another gag about the story – and was then set upon by some audience members outside the venue.

Dave Longley’s manager, Lee Martin apologised on his behalf.

‘Dave was having a great gig and got a little carried away,’ he said. ‘By his own admission he made a stupid mistake and greatly regrets the ill-chosen joke.’

Both subjects are especially sensitive for Liverpool. Madeleine’s mother, Kate, is from the city, and Rhys was killed in the Croxteth Park area.

Published: 25 Sep 2007