...and that's what gave Chris Ramsey his big break

Chris Ramsey says he landed his big TV break because Russell Kane was so hyperactive that he posed a danger to epileptics.

Kane had recorded a set for Russell Howard's Good News Extra in 2010 in front of the usual backdrop: a massive screen with his name printed multiple times.

But he is said to have moved around so much that he caused a strobe effect which could have triggered epileptic episodes.

Ramsey said producers had to use a recording of him instead, which had been taped as a back-up in case any of the booked acts 'fucked up'. 

'Russell Kane was booked to do his slot, a friend of mine' Ramsey told the rapper Scroobius Pip on his podcast. 'And because he was moving so much, the strobe counter that they have for TV, it went over the limit.

'They've got a counter for people with epilepsy and it went off the Richter, so he couldn't be on.’

Ramey – whose Comedy Central show returned last night –  acknowledged that his appearance gave him a boost, saying: ‘I had that credit and it was so helpful for an [Edinburgh Fringe] poster.’

Kane did appear on a later episode of Good News Extra.

Published: 1 Mar 2018