Punter arrested after fracas

The moment Jim Jeffries was attacked on stage has been released on YouTube.

A man was arrested at the Manchester Comedy Store on Saturday night after the unprovoked attack.

The angry punter attacked the Australian stand-up as he was midway through his set in the 8pm show, leaving him with a black eye.

He spent the night in the cells, and Jeffries is now expected to press charges.

Footage of the assault, captured on the venue’s cameras, can now be seen here.

The attacker, who one punter described as ‘a hard little guy’ took offence after Jeffries put down a heckler, even though she was not thought to be a friend of his.

According to one audience member, trouble started following a particularly raucous night. Things came to a head when Jeffries told the woman who had been making a nuisance of herself: ‘I’ll leave you alone now, just like your Dad did. Shame your grandfather didn’t.’

The line got a laugh, but the attacker leapt up and yelled an insult at Jeffries before storming out to the bar.

Minutes later, after Jeffries thought the incident had been dealt with, the man charged back out of nowhere and attacked. Audience members and security came to the comic’s aid, and the man was dragged out. Police were called and led him away to the cells.

Bar staff reported that the man was pacing the room, punching the walls before returning to the auditorium to strike.

Despite his battering, Jeffries came back for an encore after the crowd started calling his name.

The tape of the attack was shown on a loop in the bar while the audience awaited the 11.30pm show – so they gave Jeffries a rapturous reception, and called him back for an encore at that show, too.

Published: 16 Apr 2007