‘Forgotten how to behave’: comics say audiences more abusive post-lockdown

Nish Kumar performing at the Soho theatre in London in January. Photograph: Tristram Kenton/The Guardian

It was halfway through a show in Shrewsbury when Nish Kumar noticed an audience member being disruptive. It became so bad that he asked the man to leave, and on his way out the man turned to the comedian.

“He shouted: ‘To be completely honest with you, my friend bought these tickets, and I thought I had tickets to see Romesh [Ranganathan],” Kumar said. He responded by explaining to the audience why the comment could be construed as racist and moved on.