Banksy pays tribute to late comedian who trained Dismaland staff

Tony Allen was known as the ‘godfather of alternative comedy’. Photograph: Tony Bennett

Banksy has paid tribute to a late comedian who trained 100 teenagers to be “the most surly and incompetent employees in the history of hospitality” for his 2015 Dismaland exhibition.

In a rare step, the reclusive graffiti artist has written a piece recalling his time with the comedian Tony Allen, which was read on BBC Radio 4’s obituary programme, Last Word, on Friday.