I have just heard UK comedienne Jo Brand on the radio with usual whinging Bheaujolais about the prevalence of heckling at comedy clubs.

I don’t know what multiverse she is trapped in but my experience of live comedy in the last decade (which gentle reader, is considerable), is that you are much more likely to be on the receiving end of abuse during a live comedy gig than giving it. They literally step out of the fourth wall and get you. Like the monkey in the cupboard. You’re sitting there minding your own business, ticket stub in hand. They have no act. But they have you. And soon afterwards they have your name and occupation.

Hilarity is bound to ensue so surely telling them to fcuk off at that point can’t be called heckling?