Comedy club bans swearing

The Funny Side Of Covent Garden is to offer a clean night of comedy, promising punters cash back if any of the acts swear

And what’s more, the money will come out of the comics’ fee, thanks to a swearbox system

The club is trying it as a one-off next Sunday, but if it proves a success, promoter Rob Mauduit has promised more

He says it’s a reaction to a common complaint about stand-up: ‘I like comedy but why do they all have to swear so much?’

So any act who utters a four-letter word during their set will have to pay £1 of their fee into the swearbox. At the end of the evening any money will be divided up among the audience

Co-promoter David Bourn added: ‘We are catering for comedy fans who are put off live comedy because it has an, often unwarranted, reputation for being peppered with bad language

‘With this show we’re simply taking the swearing out and leaving the comedy in – technically giving the audience more jokes for their money.’

However none of the acts on the first night – James Dowdeswell, Henning Wehn and Shappi Khorsandi (pictured) – are particularly known for their swearing, so it shouldn’t prove too much of a challenge

Published: 18 Oct 2006