Janeane bails just minutes into set

American stand-up Janeane Garofalo sulked off stage just a few minutes into her set at the Latitude Festival after her jokes fell flat.

The comedian – best known for starring in The Larry Sanders Show – had been expected to be one of the highlights of Saturday’s bill.

But after jokes about airport security and the CSI TV series got a muted response from the comedy tent, she told the audience it wasn’t working and left.

‘It’s not you, I blame myself for this,’ she said.

However, as compere Carl Donnelly was not ready to return to the stage, Garofalo had to squirm through another couple of minutes’ of poorly received material before leaving the stage.

Ed Byrne, who was following her, did an extended set to cover the time and joked: ‘If I do an hour, can I have Janeane's money?’

Fans were quick to register their disappointment on Twitter. ‘Janeane Garofalo was useless at #Latitude and ran off after ten minutes,’ wrote one. ‘Ed Byrne saving the day though with an extra long inspired set!’

She is not the first hotly-tipped American comedienne to disappoint UK audience, as Sarah Silverman’s much-anticipated UK debut lasted little over 40 minutes at the Hammersmith Apollo in .October 2008

Garofalo has a ten-night run planned at the Edinburgh Fringe next month, as well as two nights at London’s Bloomsbury Theatre in September.

Click here for Chortle's reviews from the festival.

Published: 20 Jul 2009