Royal Variety Performance viewers complain to Ofcom over comic’s ‘disgusting’ Covid joke

Simon Brodkin has been slammed by viewers over a joke about Covid at the Royal Variety Performance.

The comedian, who has played characters like Lee Nelson and Jason Bent in the past, is best known for his bold pranks, including giving Theresa May a P45 and covering FIFA president Sepp Blatter in money at a press conference.

He caused a stir again on Sunday evening during ITV’s broadcast of the Royal Albert Hall show, with viewers blasting one of his jokes as ‘sick and insensitive’.

‘I am the guy that did all the stunts and people always want to kow if my stunts ever go wrong. Occasionally, late 2019 I broke into this laboratory in Wuhan. Sorry,’ he quipped.

Although the live audience laughed, people watching at home seemed less impressed.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), viewer @ilovewhitewine wrote: ‘Did that Simon guy really just make a really poor “joke” about Wuhan/Covid? WTF #RoyalVarietyPerformance’

Simon Brodkin was blasted by viewers after referencing the Covid pandemic (Picture: ITV/Shutterstock)

‘The Wuhan joke was very poor taste. Many lost loved ones, or remain poorly – not funny,’ added another user @maxmack1, while fan @mrjmdk said: ‘Very distasteful and insensitive joke about the Wuhan Labs. Many people lost their lives to COVID! #distasteful #insensitive’

A different viewer @alisonfrank23 argued: ‘@SimonBrodkin I take it you lost no one during Covid due to your insensitive comment at the RVP? You may not have but thousands did. Far from a joke.’

And @blue_laur11 wrote: ‘Was Simon Bodkin making a joke about covid ?? The joke about him breaking to a laboratory. If so that’s not funny that’s sick!! #RoyalVarietyPerformance’

The comedian, who created the Lee Nelson character, is known for his pranks (Picture: ITV/Shutterstock)

X user @cjcoulshed added: ‘HOW dare you make a DISGUSTING joke about the pandemic? I will be making a complaint to Ofcom about this you should be ashamed of yourself.’

Simon seems unmoved by the criticism, as he proudly shared a ‘certificate of appearance and appreciation’ for his routine at the Royal Variety Performance.

He wrote: ‘This is going on my mantelpiece next to my swimming certificate 👑🏅’

Some viewers defended the comic, as @daisyyt even hailed him as ‘the funniest comedian’ she’s seen ‘for years’.

‘Oh jeez, come on. It’s a joke, not attacking anyone. Mentioning a pandemic that happened,’ argued @Calder197, while @pisanalison said: ‘Like a breath of fresh air! Great humour, thought provoking too. I laughed out loud, thank you.’

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The comic has sparked a lot of controversy with the jibe.