Another venue pulls a Roy Chubby Brown gig

Another council has pulled a Roy Chubby Brown gig saying the comic did not reflect its values.

The controversial comic had been due to make a return appearance at the council-run Grand Theatre in Swansea in April.

But the Labour-run authority has pulled the plug, saying the did not fit in with its aim to offer ‘inclusive creative programming’ for ‘diverse audiences’.

So far the comic had sold 52 of the 1,000 seats – with ticket-holders now getting refunds – but hundreds more leapt to his defence on social media.

And writing on Facebook, Brown's manager Tony Jo compared the decision to Brexit.

He said: ‘I have always sold out in Swansea… the audience in Swansea are a pleasure to work for and I am gutted that it has been cancelled.

‘How can a council go against the wishes of the people who voted them in!? Roy is one of the most popular artistes ever to appear in Swansea and the crowds love him! Who has made a minority decision for the majority?

‘It’s like Brexit, what the people want doesn’t seem to matter any more, it’s all about a few individuals making a lot of noise on the council! It’s about time the majority out voted the minority. it’s not a crime to have an opinion!.

‘Everybody seems to be frightened to be honest in case they upset some militant minority soap box protagonist! Grow a backbone and tell them to live or let live, everybody’s got different tastes, not everybody likes Marmite but it doesn’t mean the people that eat it are wrong.’

In a statement, Swansea Council said: ‘We have decided not to go ahead with a provisional booking for Roy "Chubby" Brown after considering how it would work alongside our new programming aspirations and partnerships.

‘We want all our communities and staff to feel welcome and we felt this booking was unlikely to reflect our values and commitments to them.

‘After fully considering the booking, we are refunding 52 advance sale ticket-holders and we apologise to those who may have been disappointed.

‘We recently decided that a fresh approach is essential if we are to cater for future audience needs. Our aim is to refresh the Grand Theatre programming and offer something new and fresh for all our communities; this will meet Swansea Council’s commitment to culture, regeneration and equal opportunity.

‘As a result, the Grand Theatre is developing an exciting new programming structure, looking to develop younger, family and diverse audiences via inclusive creative programming. We’re confident this will bring great pleasure to many thousands of people over the coming years.’

However some Chubby fans wondered how bookings such as Showaddywaddy and the ELO Experience would lure a younger audience to the venue.

And despite cancelling Brown, Jim Davidson is still due to play the Grand in March.

Last year the Opera House in Cork and the Town House in Hamilton, Lanarkshire, cancelled Chubby show after belatedly deciding they didn’t want his style of comedy.= . He has also been banned by  Newcastle City Hall and the Town Hall in his native Middlesbrough. 

• Our review of Roy Chubby Brown

Published: 29 Oct 2019