Tabloids stir up outrage

Simon Amstell has been criticised by the newspapers after making a flippant comment about cancer on BBC Breakfast yesterday.

The comic was branded ‘sick’ by The Sun and The Daily Star after making reference to singer Russell Watson's fight against cancer.

His comment came after hosts Bill Turnbull and Sian Williams tried to wrap up the interview after Amstell kept trying to interject. Turnbull told him: 'We're finished now,'

The former Never Mind The Buzzcocks host reacted with fake outrage, and mocked the presenters by saying: 'Stop talking! We're finished! Got to get Russell on with his tumour!'

After being told Watson was ‘right there’ off camera. Amstell added: ‘He sings better now.’

Turnbull and Williams seemed to take the comment in the spirit it was intended, and laughed along – although the tabloids today claim they were ‘angry’ and ‘left squirming’ by the comment.

Williams said: ‘He’s right there ... he’ll hit you on the way out. That was a Buzzcocks moment there.’

Watson was the next guest on the programme, and did indeed speak about his cancer. He recently revealed that he contemplated suicide during treatment for the pituitary tumours that were discovered in 2006 and 2007.

None of the newspapers that criticised Amstell’s comments linked to the video of the incident to allow their readers to make up their own minds – even thought he BBC posted it here.

However, their stories prompted indignation among readers. One woman posted on the Daily Mail website that she prayed Amstell would get cancer. In a statement far more offensive than the original joke, 'Liz' from Bristol posted: 'My prayers are going to whatever gods there are that one day, this vapid man will know what it's like to live in Cancerland.'

Another poster, Grant P of Wiltshire, added: 'This will only be hilarious when Amstell gets a brain tumour. Can't wait for that punchline.'

Earlier this month Noel Fielding said Amstell's cruel jokes put guests off from appearing on Buzzcocks while he hosted the show.

Published: 23 Nov 2010