Comedian in row over wheelchair users

CONTROVERSIAL comic Jim Davidson refused to go on stage apparently because wheelchair users in the front row would not move, it emerged yesterday.

The 49-year-old comedian's show at the Plymouth Pavilions, part of his national Vote4Jim tour, was cancelled on Monday night, disappointing 1,700 people.

A Pavilions spokesman said yesterday: "He has played here on numerous occasions, we are a bit flabbergasted."

One disappointed wheelchair-using member of the audience, 83-year-old Kenneth Hull, said: "He is supposed to be a comedian but that was no joke."

The Pavilions spokesman said: "Jim Davidson apparently took exception to a number of wheelchair users in the front stalls of the Pavilions Arena.

"Mr Davidson cited the fact that a proportion of his act was aimed at disabled customers and that he would be unable to perform under these circumstances."

The comic asked if the Pavilions front-of-house manager would move the wheelchair users off to the sides.

"Quite rightly these customers were not prepared to move," said the spokesman, adding that Mr Davidson walked out of the venue 15 minutes after the show was due to start.

Mr Hull, from Crediton, Devon, said yesterday: "I think what happened was disgusting."

He was at the show to celebrate his move a few weeks ago from Rustington, near Worthing.

"I was in the front row," he said. "There were up to 40 people in wheelchairs, some on a platform to one side.

"I was asked by the theatre management if I would mind moving to one side, where we would not have been able to see very well. We had paid £19 for each seat, why should we move?"

Mr Hull, who was with his son and grandson, refused to move. He said the comedian apparently wanted the wheelchairs moved but no one knew why.

"They said maybe it was because some of the jokes may be offensive to people in wheelchairs but it would not have offended me.

"You go to a show like that and you take it on board," Mr Hull said.

"We never even cast our eyes on Jim Davidson," Mr Hull said. "We would not bother to go and see him again. His attitude is disgusting. He did not even come out and apologise."

The Pavilions spokesman said: "Mr Davidson's act was clearly going to be offensive to disabled customers and he was not prepared to modify it in any way."

The customers who had purchased tickets from the Pavilions would be entitled to a full refund, the spokesman said.

"Quite frankly I am appalled at Mr Davidson's behaviour and we simply do not condone his actions in any way," said the spokesman.

In a statement released on his behalf yesterday, Davidson said he "took the mick" out of everyone in the front row of his shows.

"As all the people in the front row were in wheelchairs I feared it would appear I was specifically targeting disabled people.

"I asked if just some would mind moving. Much of my act depends upon audience reaction and in fact one part of the show involves getting the audience to gang up against the front row.

"I feared the perception would be I had picked on people specifically because they were in wheelchairs.

"My intention was not to hurt or offend anyone, and I apologise if I have done so."