Comedy fans divided over Johnny Vegas's shambolic appearance

Johnny Vegas has made a career out of playing up to a pitiful, on-stage drunk.

But the line between fact and fiction became very blurred at the weekend, as fans feared for his health as he appeared to collapse after his set.

Theatre staff at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall had to escort the comic off stage on Saturday night. And some punters complained about his shambolic appearance – although others insisted it was all part of the joke.

The 48-year-old has previously had a problem with drink, downing up to two bottles of vodka a day, but has more recently cleaned up his act.

One punter, Susan Brady, posted brief footage of the comic stumbling off stage as some of the audience filed out.

@JohnnyVegasReal @liverpoolphil . Johnny Vegas you were an absolute dickhead at the Philarmonic in Liverpool . Pissed as a fart, couldn’t speak not remotely funny once. Escorted off stage by the staff . Spent our hard earned money to see you. Sort your shit out. pic.twitter.com/vr4rIDLat0

— susan (@susan_brady1404) December 1, 2018

She wrote on Twitter: ‘Johnny Vegas you were an absolute dickhead at the Philharmonic in Liverpool. Pissed as a fart, couldn’t speak not remotely funny once. Escorted off stage by the staff. Spent our hard earned money to see you. Sort your shit out.

Gordon Voller added: ‘Well I have been to a lot of comedy clubs and gigs in my time and I have never been a fan of Johnny Vegas but even Mrs G agreed he cut a sad sight tonight drunk on stage and being that paralytic he rolled off stage and had to be helped off.’

But organisers at he Laughterhouse Comedy Club said it was all part of the act – which some punters agreed with

Simon Ridgeway posted: ‘Great night of comedy and how can anyone be better than a pissed-up Johnny Vegas and a dog taking a huge shit on the stage?? Lol.’

And a woman called Rosie added: ‘Went to a comedy show in Liverpool after comic con yesterday. Out if the 7 comedians that were there,I'd only heard of 2, and Johnny Vegas was the only one I was impressed with. He was totally worth going for though.’

After the gig, the official Laughterhouse twitter feed said: ‘Well that was an amazing show’ and thanked all the comics taking part, including Vegas.

Vegas's representatives have not yet commented on the gig.

Published: 3 Dec 2018