Brown storms off stage after just 4mins

Roy Chubby Brown has blamed the audience for his walkout just four minutes into a gig on Wednesday.

The controversy-courting comic stormed off stage after getting a poor reaction to a joke about the Mumbai terrorist attacks, and refused to come back out.

His decision almost caused a riot among the 3,000 fans at Glasgow’s Clyde Auditorium, who were left disappointed at a wasted night out.

However, in a statement released today, Brown’s promoter Bob Summers claimed that hecklers had ‘infiltrated’ the show with the intention of disrupting the performance – despite having paid £12 a ticket.

He said: ‘Unfortunately when Roy appeared on stage a number of patrons, who had evidently no intention of listening to him, hurled continuous abuse, totally disrupting the performance. Roy would like to sincerely apologise to all the loyal and true fans who had attended the show.’

The 63-year-old comic reportedly snapped: ‘F*** off. I'm away,’ before storming offstage. An announcement then told the crowd the gig had been cancelled.

Managers of the venue, dubbed The Armadillo, closed the merchandise stall because they feared it might get looted, and had to waive the £5 car-parking charge.

One of the fans told the Glasgow Daily Record: ‘It has ruined our night - he is supposed to be a professional. You would think he would have developed a thick skin after being in comedy for so long. It is a disgrace.’

It was the second show in a row in which the comedian – real name Royston Vasey – had been heckled from the Glasgow audience. On Tuesday night, 16 people were thrown out by bouncers for giving him abuse.

A spokeswoman for the venue said that ticket-holders could get a full refund and the point of purchase.

Published: 11 Dec 2008