'There's a line': Comedians on whether Peter Kay was right to throw out hecklers

Recently, Peter Kay, a well-known comedian, made headlines when he decided to remove two hecklers from his show at the Manchester Arena. This incident was surprising because he mentioned that he had only kicked out one person in the previous 114 shows of his three-year tour. During the performance, one heckler was particularly disruptive, repeatedly shouting about Peter's favorite food, 'garlic bread'. This led Peter to feel that he was being treated unfairly, as he tried to keep the show light-hearted. Another heckler shouted 'we love you, Peter', but this was also seen as an interruption, and she was removed from the venue. After the incident, she expressed feeling humiliated and thought Peter's reaction was excessive. Before these disruptions, the atmosphere in the arena was positive, but the hecklers changed that vibe. This situation sparked a week-long discussion about the fine line between audience participation and disruptive behavior. To gain more insight, the BBC reached out to comedians from England, Wales, and Scotland to share their thoughts on how to handle hecklers. Larry Dean, a comedian who is about to start his UK tour, expressed sympathy for both Peter Kay and the audience. He explained that dealing with hecklers is a challenging task for comedians, as they often feel like they are in a classroom trying to maintain order. Larry emphasized the importance of reading the room and understanding whether the audience wants the comedian to continue or if they prefer to enjoy the show without interruptions. He recounted a particularly brutal heckling experience from last year when he was discussing ghosts. A woman in the audience revealed that her father had bought her tickets because he was dying and wanted her to have a good time. This left Larry in shock, and he felt it was inappropriate to make jokes in that situation. He noted that comedians like Chris Rock and Peter Kay have had it easier compared to his experiences with hecklers. Larry also mentioned that in today's social media-driven world, many comedians actually welcome heckling as it can help them gain publicity. He shared another story about a man in the front row who kept whispering bad words to him, which he had to ignore. Larry explained that performing in large arenas is more challenging than in smaller comedy clubs because the laughter tends to rise rather than come towards the stage, making it difficult for comedians to hear audience members. People often suggest what a comedian should have said in response to hecklers, but most of them have never been on stage and do not understand the pressure of thinking quickly in those moments. Another comedian, James Acaster, recently released a special titled 'Hecklers Welcome', not because he enjoys heckling, but to confront his fear of it. He believes that nothing captures an audience's attention more than watching a comedian handle a heckler. However, he warns that if someone decides to heckle a professional comedian, they should be prepared for a witty comeback. Abi Clarke, another comedian, believes that most comedians would side with Peter Kay in this debate. She pointed out that there is a significant difference between heckling and crowd work. When a comedian engages in crowd work, they are inviting interaction, but if someone shouts something random, it can disrupt the performance. Abi feels that if a heckler is being positive and engaging, it can be enjoyable, but if they are just being loud and annoying, they should be removed from the venue. She has had a few negative experiences with hecklers, but she feels fortunate that the audience usually supports her. Paul Hilleard, a Welsh comedian who won a prestigious award last year, believes that dealing with hecklers is simply part of the job. He thinks that Peter Kay may have overreacted, especially since he was performing for a crowd of fans who adore him. Paul often performs in smaller venues where the audience may not even realize that a comedy show is taking place. He acknowledges that heckling is part of the game, and while it can be frustrating, it can also lead to funny moments. Paul has learned to control the audience, especially when they are rowdy or intoxicated. He believes that most hecklers do not intend to ruin the show; they just want to be part of the fun. He argues that if a heckler is genuinely ruining the performance, it becomes the venue's responsibility, but it is the comedian's job to turn that heckle into something entertaining. Paul enjoys the challenge of transforming unexpected moments into comedic gold. The recent events surrounding Peter Kay have ignited discussions about the delicate balance between audience engagement and disruptive behavior. Comedians have various strategies for handling hecklers, and it is evident that this topic will remain a significant conversation in the world of comedy.