Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

Sheffield City Trust cancels Roy Chubby Brown's 'racist, homophobic and sexist' show

Sheffield City Trust cancels Roy Chubby Brown's 'racist, homophobic and sexist' show

IN a career spanning 40 years, Roy Chubby Brown has probably never had as much publicity in Sheffield.

Sheffield City Trust, which runs the City Hall, has cancelled his show as it says the racist, homophobic and sexist content doesn’t fit in with its values.


Sheffield Council funds the City Hall – it has no authority over what shows appear but says it supports the Trust’s decision.

The council says the comedian, real name Royston Vasey, is not banned from Sheffield and can perform in a private venue, but not a publicly funded one.

Councillors were dragged into a debate after 42,000 people signed a petition in support of Roy Chubby Brown.

Any petition to Sheffield Council which has more than 5,000 signatures automatically triggers a debate at full council.

Hayley Madden, who started the petition, told councillors: “Fans should be able to attend the show at Sheffield City Hall as we are also the taxpayers that fund such venues.

“Not everyone will have the same taste in comedy and it’s not just fans of Mr Vasey who have signed, but those who believe people who wish to attend the shows should have the freedom to do so

“Roy Chubby Brown is just an act, it’s behind closed doors. I know folk from different nationalities and sexual preferences that have attended his shows and continue to do so.

“Surely councillors have been voted in to listen to their community, not to dictate and promote their own personal views.

“Those who choose to attend know exactly what they are going to see with the sole purpose of having a good laugh. After the past year and a half, that’s exactly what we need.”

Labour councillor Abtisam Mohamed spoke out against the show and said she was baffled at the support for the comedian.

“I’ve heard over the last few weeks arguments of why he should be allowed to perform, that comedy is an acquired taste and is subjective; that if you don’t like it, don’t go or what on earth has happened to freedom of speech.

“But this is about racism – when people use the P word to refer to Pakistanis, that is racist. When somebody uses the N word to refer to black people, that is racist.

“Racism is racism, you cannot get away from that whether it’s a comedian or not. Any argument about free speech does not change that fundamental position.”

But Liberal Democrat Leader Shaffaq Mohammed questioned whether outspoken comedians Jimmy Carr, Jo Brand and rap artists would also be cancelled.

“We live in a liberal society with individual freedoms and part of that is to go and watch a comedy act behind closed doors

“My question is where do we go from here? Who would we ban next, because some people are offended by the prime minister or the former leader of the Labour Party Jeremy Corbyn so does that mean they will no longer also be allowed to come and address people at the City Hall?”

(Local Democracy Reporting Service)

More For You

uk weather

Amber heat health alerts have been issued across several regions of England

iStock

England faces widespread heat alerts and hosepipe bans amid rising temperatures

Highlights:

  • Amber heat health alerts in place for large parts of England
  • Hosepipe bans announced in Yorkshire, Kent and Sussex
  • Temperatures could reach 33°C over the weekend
  • Health risks rise, especially for elderly and vulnerable groups

Heat warnings in effect as UK braces for another hot weekend

Amber heat health alerts have been issued across several regions of England, with temperatures expected to climb to 33°C in some areas over the weekend. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) activated the warning at 12 pm on Friday, with it set to remain in place until 9 am on Monday.

The alerts cover the East Midlands, West Midlands, south-east, south-west, East of England, and London. Additional yellow alerts were issued for the north-east, north-west, and Yorkshire and the Humber, starting from midday Friday.

Keep ReadingShow less
Essex ladybird invasion

One of the largest gatherings was filmed on a beach at Point Clear

Dee-anne Markiewicz / SWNS

Swarms of ladybirds invade Essex coastline amid soaring temperatures

Highlights:

  • Ladybird swarms reported across Essex and Suffolk coastal towns
  • Hot weather likely driving the sudden surge in population
  • Sightings include Point Clear, Shoebury, Clacton and Felixstowe
  • Similar outbreaks occurred in 1976 during another hot UK summer

Sudden surge in ladybird numbers across the southeast

Millions of ladybirds have been spotted swarming towns and villages along the Essex coast, with similar sightings stretching into Suffolk. Residents have reported unusually high numbers of the red and black-spotted insects, particularly near coastal areas, with the recent hot weather believed to be a major contributing factor.

One of the largest gatherings was filmed on a beach at Point Clear, a village near St Osyth in Essex, where the insects could be seen piling on top of each other on driftwood and plants.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kapil Sharma

Kapil Sharma’s Canada cafe shot at days after opening

Instagram/ginnichatrath

Kapil Sharma’s Canadian café targeted in shooting, Khalistani terrorist cites mockery of Nihang Sikhs as motive

Highlights:

  • Shots were fired at Kap’s Café in Surrey, Canada, owned by comedian Kapil Sharma, just days after its opening.
  • Khalistani extremist Harjit Singh Laddi, linked to banned group BKI, claimed responsibility.
  • The motive cited was an old comedy segment from The Kapil Sharma Show that allegedly mocked Nihang Sikhs.
  • No injuries were reported; Canadian authorities are investigating the incident.

Comedian Kapil Sharma’s recently launched Kap’s Café in Surrey, British Columbia, was the target of a shooting in the early hours of 10 July. Though no one was harmed, the property sustained significant damage. A known Khalistani extremist, Harjit Singh Laddi, has claimed responsibility for the attack, citing perceived religious disrespect on The Kapil Sharma Show.

 Kap\u2019s Cafe in Surrey  Kap’s Cafe in Surrey was struck by gunfire late at night with staff still insideInstagram/thekapscafe_

Keep ReadingShow less
Police probe hate crime over migrant effigies bonfire in Northern Ireland

Models depicting migrants wearing life jackets in a small boat alongside two banners reading 'Stop the boats' and 'Veterans before refugees' are displayed on top a bonfire in Moygashel, Northern Ireland, on July 9, 2025. (Photo by PETER MURPHY/AFP via Getty Images)

Police probe hate crime over migrant effigies bonfire in Northern Ireland

POLICE in Northern Ireland have launched a hate crime investigation after a bonfire topped with effigies of migrants in a boat was set alight in the village of Moygashel, County Tyrone.

The incident, which took place on Thursday (10) night, has drawn widespread condemnation from political leaders, church officials, and human rights groups.

Keep ReadingShow less
Navratri festival in Wembley

A similar event held at the same site last year resulted in a planning enforcement notice being issued due to complaints of noise and disturbance.

Getty Images

Navratri festival in Wembley faces objections

A PROPOSED 10-day Hindu festival in Wembley, north London, has drawn objections over concerns about noise and disruption in the area.

Asian Events Media (AEM) has applied to Brent Council to host the Navratri celebration at Alperton Studios from September 22 to October 1, according to The London Standard.

Keep ReadingShow less