Comedian Jimmy Carr has explained his position on dealing with noisy audiences: ‘they get kicked out for a reason.’ Jimmy was pointing out the difference between hecklers shouting out ‘random, drunken nonsense’ and adding value to the show.

Carr was speaking on Capital Breakfast with Jordan North, Chris Stark and Sian Welby 

Jordan North said: “You need to see this guy on tour, because him with hecklers is just the best! You know how to deal with hecklers.”

Carr replied: “I do like a heckle. People come to my tour show and there’s a lot of jokes in it. There’s a lot of like, ‘Okay, I’ve written a show, this is it,’ and then I like to leave enough space so people can just join in and shout nonsense. And it’s kind of that thing of like, I suppose like watching a magician do magic. Because I’m so used to it, it’s like, ‘Bring it!’ I’m not going to get insulted and it’s kind of fun.”

Stark asked: “But do you worry about a backlash if you kick out a heckler? Because I think that’s a big thing at the moment.”

Carr replied: “I think Peter Kay is a national treasure, he’s a wonderful, wonderful man, and he’s incredibly likeable. But there’s 16,000 people in a room, and he had to get rid of some people who were getting in the way of the evening. And his duty is to the 16,000 people who have booked a hotel, and they’ve bought a ticket and they’re there at the arena to watch the show, and there’s a huge difference. And we all know there’s a huge difference between shouting out something that’s disruptive and repetitive and annoying, and joining in and adding value. And the people at my show are very lucky. The audience that come to see me know that when it’s heckling or joining in and asking questions. It’s not random, drunken nonsense. There’s a huge difference. If they get kicked out, they get kicked out for a reason.”

Watch the full interview here.

Capital Breakfast with Jordan North, Chris Stark and Sian Welby weekdays from 6am – 10am across the UK and on Global Player