Barry Castagnola vows never to use it again

Stand-up Barry Castagnola has apologised for making a joke comparing himself to ‘Daniel Craig with Down’s Syndrome’.

Susie Hamill – whose daughter Ffion has the condition – said she was reduced to tears by the line when Castagnola cracked it while supporting Greg Davies at the Cardiff Motorpoint Arena on Saturday.

She took to Twitter to berate the comic for his ‘cheap’ joke, saying it was ‘offensive and ignorant’.

The offending line came when the comic told the audience how other people described him.

In response to Mrs Hamill, Castagnola tweeted: ‘I’m so sorry to have caused offence. It’s not in any way supposed to be a joke "about" Down’s Syndrome. I was quoting something said to me. However, I won’t repeat it again as I don’t want to cause upset or offence.

But the response was not enough to satisfy Mrs Hamill, who replied: ‘Do you still think it’s funny to relate to yourself as Daniel Craig with Down’s Syndrome? Because today, I am still heartbroken and in tears, as I was last night at your crass ignorance.

Castagnola repeated: ’I was wrong. I’m mortified to have caused upset. That was never my intention and, as I said, I won’t repeat it. I’m very sorry.

And Mrs Hamill, who is manager at Llanelli mental health charity Links, said: ’Well, you ruined our night as the 5,000 people behind me laughed. Careless and cheap and I paid to hear you insult my daughter.’

Published: 27 Nov 2017