Comedian takes 'break-a-leg' seriously

A comedian took the good luck phrase “break a leg” too literally when he collapsed and broke his ankle on stage.

Compere Mark Olver’s stand-up act became a lie-down one when his knee gave way at Bristol’s Jesters comedy club on Friday night.

As he hit the ground his ankle broke and, writhing in agony, he continued to perform as he waited for the ambulance.

Mr Olver, of Brislington, Bristol, said the crowds thought it was all part of the act until paramedics rushed on to the stage to administer gas and air.

He said: “I’d been on stage for 15 seconds and to warm up the audience I got them to cheer. I did three cheers and on the third one my knee popped out.”

He said it was “really painful” but the capacity crowd of 180 thought he was joking.

“I was lying on the floor and still had the microphone and said could someone get me an ambulance. That got a big laugh. I said no really, I’ve dislocated my knee.”

In the wait for the ambulance he carried on with his “normal filthy stuff” although things were going “a bit hazy“.

When he called for a sing-song, someone from the crowd suggested Knees Up Mother Brown and another wanted to do the Conga.

Mr Olver said the laughs stopped when he began to hyperventilate from receiving gas and air.

He was told he had a standing ovation as he left the stage.

The night’s acts went on with the club’s owner introducing them.

The 28-year-old said he had just come back from an active week with a group of children as part of his day job with a youth counselling and advice service.

His ankle will be in plaster for six weeks, and he said he hoped to return to his regular Friday night compere slot at the club tomorrow night.