ITV Royal Variety Performance fans outraged over comic’s ‘tasteless’ cancer joke in front of King Charles: ‘Very ill-timed!’

ITV viewers tuned into Sunday night’s Royal Variety Performance have taken issue with one comedian’s joke as they performed in front of King Charles III.

Matt Forde, who was diagnosed with cancer himself last year, took to the stage with a walking stick and was keen to explain to the crowd why he needed the aid.

King Charles, who was watching from the Royal Albert Hall balcony, has also faced his own personal struggles with the illness this year, announcing his diagnosis with cancer back in February.

The king underwent treatment soon after and didn’t make a public appearance until Easter Sunday.

Elsewhere in the Royal Family, his daughter-in-law, the Princess of Wales, was also grappling with the illness, going public with her diagnosis in March.

With the illness having such an impact on the royals this year, Forde managed to anger viewers when he joked about the matter within moments of taking to the stage.

“Before I start I should explain why I need a walking stick,” Forde began.

“Just over a year ago, I had terrible nerve pain in my left leg and I went to get an MRI scan thinking the pain was caused by a slipped or swollen disc.

“I got the results of that scan back and I was diagnosed with cancer. And at that point, I had no idea how much longer I had to live.”

In an attempt to lift the sombre atmosphere that had fallen upon the crowd, Forde continued: “I’m telling you this… mainly just to get you onside because I’m going to impersonate some politicians now.”

As ripples of laughter emerged, Forde’s jokes about the illness didn’t stop there.

Referring to his imminent impersonations, he remarked: “If I insult somebody you like, just remember… I’ve been very brave.”

Forde then began to mimic crying which garnered pockets of chuckles from the audience.

Before delving into his set, Force confirmed: “But I’m now cancer-free and alive. And I’m so glad I lived to see the wonderful global political events of the last few months.”

Forde then began reeling off impersonations of the world’s biggest political figures, from Donald Trump to Rishi Sunak to Sir Keir Starmer.

He even got a laugh from King Charles when making a joke about Trump’s mannerisms.

But several ITV viewers failed to see the funny side of Forde’s routine, even though the comedian was drawing from his own experiences and had been through his own battle with cancer.

On X, several felt the joke in front of the king was in poor taste, with one fan raging: “A cancer joke with the King watching? Bit tasteless. #RoyalVarietyPerformance.”

“I dont agree with the cancer joke #RoyalVarietyPerformance,” a second hit out while a third agreed: “The cancer joke is very ill timed after what the king has been through recently. #RoyalVarietyPerformance.”

“This comedian is utterly unfunny – and his ‘cancer jokes’ were dire and in the worst possible taste!! #RoyalVarietyPerformance,” added a fourth while a fifth was dumbfounded: “Coming in with a joke about cancer in front of the King? Are you serious? #RoyalVarietyPerformance”

Other X users who’d had their own personal battles with the illness also hit out, including one who commented: “Did he have to mention his cancer diagnosis, as a cancer survivor myself good luck to him, but did he really have to mention it in front of the King? #RoyalVarietyPerformance.” (sic)

While the jokes may have fallen flat with those watching at home, Forde still received a round of applause and cheers as he exited the stage soon after his set.

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Speaking to Chris Evans on Virgin Radio earlier this year, Forde opened up about his diagnosis: “I had cancer on the base of the spine. While I was doing the Edinburgh Festival last year, I had this terrible nerve pain on my left buttock.

“It was unusual. I couldn’t sit down or lie down, so they gave me painkillers.

“I got an MRI, and then I saw the guy who’d scanned me after my last show – and they thought it might be a slipped disc – he said, ‘I’m just very sorry, you’ve got cancer on the spine,’ and just immediately, you are rapidly coming to terms with the fact your life is potentially going to be a lot shorter.”

He explained the use of the stick once more as he told Evans: “I had the base of my spine removed. I was then in hospital for ten weeks recovering from that.”