Walkouts at corporate gig

The company’s managing director Phil Inman called a halt to the entertainment after journalists walked out in protest at CJ Harper’s offensive material.

Ironically, 32-year-old Harper was a previous winner of the newspaper's Talent Trail competition.

But when he started talking about Rastafarians and Pakistanis living in Bradford, more than half a dozen people walked out.

Journalists’ trade paper UK Press Gazette said that before the walkout, his routine was greeted with stunned silence

One insider told the paper: ‘Remember the Phoenix Nights episode with Tim Healey singing send the buggers back? "Well it was that, but more surreal, patronising, hilarious and appalling.’

Inman apologised to the remaining audience for the content of Harper's set. He then left the theatre to apologise to those who had already left. Editor John Meehan also apologised to the entire newsroom for any offence caused

Inman said: ‘The event was going very well until the performer began to tell offensive jokes. We stopped the act very quickly and apologised immediately to all the staff.’

Harper, who was apparently warned not to use racist material before the gig, did not respond to Chortle’s email seeking comment.

Published: 2 Nov 2006