When Jack Whitehall's diamond gags didn't sparkle

Comic tells Graham Norton of a 'horrendous' gig

comedy For most comedians, a corporate gig might involve something like a regional plumbing awards. For Jack Whitehall it's honouring high-end jewellers such as Louis Vuitton and Tiffany at the Grand Prix de la Haute Joaillerie in Monaco.

But speaking on the Graham Norton show tonight, he reveals all did not go well.

‘I was wondering what on earth I could talk about when the comedy gods delivered the Louvre heist,’ the told the talk-show host.

‘I don’t speak French, so I had no idea that the woman that came on before me said the robbery was one of the most tragic things that had ever happened to the French people, and on I come with a hi-vis vest with a load of prop jewellery.

‘When I said, "Who wants Napolean’s tiara" it was tumbleweed. I died on my arse. How did I know that mentioning "heist" five times to a room full of jewellers is like shouting "bomb" at an airport. It was horrendous!’

He also spoke about working with David Duchovny on is new tense thriller series Malice, saying of the X-Files star: He didn’t know who I was at the start but while we were filming in England he got obsessed with Catchphrase and was so excited that my name was one of the answers.’