Viagogo mark-up made him more expensive than Hamilton!

Rhod Gilbert has refunded fans who were ripped off by ticket touts.

Two punters at his Book Of John show in Tunbridge Wells last night revealed that they had paid £260 for a pair of tickets through reselling service Viagogo.

That’s more than four times their face value – and more expensive than watching West End smash in a private box with butler service, which costs £100 a seat.

They made the comic aware of the fact in a note they sent to his dressing room before the show, telling him that’s how much they were looking forward to seeing his return to stand-up after six years.

Gilbert addressed the issue soon after taking to the Assembly Hall stage, prompting the couple to yell out: ‘So you’d better be good!’

After joking about the pressure that put him under, the comic asked his tour manager to arrange a refund. Then he jokingly asked who else in the room got their tickets from Viagogo.

At the end of the show, Gilbert revealed that the refund had been organised – but the fans had instead offered to donate them money to the stroke and Alzheimer’s charities that the comedian is supporting with the tour.

The Competition and Markets Authority has begun a contempt of court action against Viagogo for allegedly breaching consumer law – charges the company repeatedly deny.

Gilbert’s stance is in contrast to Ed Sheeran. Last year, hundreds of the musician’s fans were turned away from his gig after he refused entry to people who bought tickets through the platform.

Published: 29 Apr 2019