...but finds some support from squaddies

Jimmy Carr has dropped a gag about soldiers who lost their limbs in battle, after receiving widespread condemnation over the weekend.

The comic was at the eye of a media storm for the joke he cracked at the Manchester Apollo: ‘Say what you like about these servicemen amputees from Iraq and Afghanistan, but we’re going to have a fucking good Paralympic team in 2012.’

Among the critics were Tory MP Patrick Mercer, who said: ‘This was a remarkably dim and foolish thing to joke about. It’s not funny and this man’s career should end right now.’

Carr initially stood by the joke as ‘the kind of comedy I do,’ but he failed to repeat it at the Apollo last night, after the storm had broken, even though one heckler asked him: ‘Do you know any jokes about amputees?’

According to the Manchester Evening News, he said: ‘Funnily enough I do. It’s coming up in the second half but it's not the one that got me into trouble.... Servicemen are having a difficult time so I’m going to leave well alone if that's okay.’ He was then applauded by the audience.

Diane Dernie, whose son Ben Parkinson lost both legs in Afghanistan, was among those to criticise Carr.

She said: ‘Soldiers are fighting for freedom of speech. I hope Mr Carr remembers that when he makes offensive jokes ridiculing them.

‘There’s no one with a better sense of humour than the lads who have lost limbs. It’s unfortunate that people like Jimmy Carr abuse them.’

Carr is a supporter of seriously injured troops and has previously visited patients at Selly Oak military hospital in Birmingham and the Headley Court rehabilitation centre in Surrey.

But Mr Mercer added that troops were ‘amazed’ by the joke, adding: ‘He was one of their favourite comics. He has spent a great deal of time with troops at Selly Oak and Headley Court, but that just makes it even more bizarre.’

However, some people have defended Carr’s material. Lance Corporal Rory Mackenzie told The Sun he ‘laughed out loud’ at the joke. ‘That brand of black humour is exactly the same as a squaddie’s.

‘Anyway, it's true we've got amputees in the forces breaking athletic world records. We're proud to represent Britain - whether it be on the battlefield or in the Paralympics.’

In a statement, Carr said: ‘I’ve got nothing but respect for the young men and women who put their lives on the line for this country.

‘I’m sorry if anyone was offended but that’s the kind of comedy I do. If a silly joke draws attention to the plight of these servicemen then so much the better. My intention was only to make people laugh.’

When Carr visited Headley Court earlier this year, he said it ‘really made him think’ about those injured in the line of duty.

At Selly Oak, Major Ian Cheesman told the comic: ‘It is not easy to meet personnel who have been seriously injured and whose lives have been dramatically changed, but your comfortable banter and obvious empathy proved to be a huge boost to both patients and their families. Visits like this are truly valued and a huge comfort for the wounded.’

Published: 26 Oct 2009