Alison Hammond has issued an apology after her comments about singing along to musicals at the theatre sparked a backlash.
The This Morning presenter, 48, was caught up in a row after discussing The Bodyguard musical, which is set to come to Newcastle's Theatre Royal this August, at which audience members have been asked to refrain from singing along to the featured Whitney Houston hits. Raising the subject with co-host Dermot O'Leary alongside regular guests Vanessa Feltz and Nick Ferrari on Wednesday's show, Alison said: "I just think it's terrible, because I sing at every single musical."
She added: "I can't believe it. I'd be devastated. I'm not even going to go to that show now."
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Vanessa Feltz chimed in: "Isn't the whole point of going to a musical that you know that you sing along to all the bits you know - and when you don't know the words, you just make them up? I mean, isn't that what everybody does, very, very loudly while eating an ice cream?"
The comments attracted widespread criticism on social media, including from West End leading lady and Come From Away star Alice Fern, who tweeted: "I have SO much to say about this I don’t even know where to start! This is so incredibly stupid. Who the hell do they think you are?! I am incredibly disappointed with all of the presenters here."
Dreamgirls star Nicole Raquel Dennis also responded: "Playing Effie White on the UK Tour of Dreamgirls singing and I am telling you for the last 5 mins of act 1, with tears running down my face SO in it, to then hear a drunk audience member or hen party hit the last 'ME' before I do is not a vibe. It's not karaoke."
Alison and Vanessa's remarks resurfaced over the weekend, after a performance of The Bodyguard at the Palace Theatre in Manchester had to be stopped early as riot police ended up being called to the show on Friday night to deal with unruly audience members. Despite signs installed around the auditorium asking people not to sing along, a handful of people had to be evicted during the first act because they would not refrain from joining in with the songs.
The problem persisted later on in the show, which ultimately had to be stopped 10 minutes before the finale as the audience were instructed to leave the theatre after the curtain came down during star Melody Thornton's performance of I Will Always Love You. Footage showed a number of 'riot vans' parked outside the theatre, with at least half a dozen police officers in attendance as "mini riots" and "fights" broke out in the audience, according to people who were there on the evening.
Star Ayden Callaghan, who plays bodyguard Frank Farmer in the musical, later took to social media to hit out at the people who had "ruined" the show, slamming the "disgusting behaviour" of some audience members. Alison took to Twitter on Sunday to issue a lengthy apology, after her defence of singing along to musicals was hit with fresh criticism in the wake of Friday's events.
"After reflection and the comments I made on Wednesday's show I want to apologise to anyone who I offended, especially the incredibly talented theatre performers, who I have the utmost respect for," Alison wrote. "I had no idea the level of disruption audiences were causing and tried to make light of the topic on Wednesday’s show, and for that I'm truly sorry.
"I'm a great supporter of theatre and the arts and would never sing at the top of my lungs at any performance, I was wrong in what I said and I've given this a lot of thought over the past few days and believe I was wrong. On Thursday evening, I attended a performance of the GBBO, the musical which I absolutely loved and gave a standing ovation, theatre is a magical experience for me and my family," she went on.
"I want to use my platform for good as always and want to stand up with the performers, front of house and theatre staff especially after seeing what happened at The Bodyguard in Manchester which has made me sick to my stomach. Once again. I'm truly sorry, but trust me, I will do better in the future. Alison x."
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