Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Chronicle Live
Chronicle Live
Entertainment
Simon Duke

This Morning's Alison and Dermot leave theatre actors fuming by 'condoning' crowds' bad behaviour

Alison Hammond, Dermot O'Leary and their This Morning colleagues have come under fire from scores of people in the theatre industry for 'condoning' and 'encouraging' disruptive behaviour from audiences. And their reaction complaints from disgruntled venues and fans came right before a performance of The Bodyguard had to be scrapped in Manchester due to people in the crowd singing and shouting over the cast.

As they were were joined by regular guests Vanessa Feltz and Nick Ferrari on the ITV daytime show, Alison and Dermot discussed reports of staff at the Palace Theatre, where The Bodyguard is playing, taking action against ticket holders who sing loudly from their seats; despite signs around the venue telling them not to.

As Dermot dismissed the complaints by laughing in his seat, Alison reacted: "I mean, I can't believe it. I'd be devastated; I'm not even going to go to that show now."

READ MORE: The Bodyguard actor slams 'disgusting' audience members as show stopped

Vanessa replied: "Isn't the whole point of a musical that you know, is that you sing along to all the bits that you know and then, when you don't know the words, you just make them up. Isn't that what everybody does?"

The conversation played out on Thursday's This Morning and, after a clip was shared online, actors and theatre staff condemned the hosts' take on the issue.

West End leading lady and star of Come From Away, Alice Fern tweeted: "I have SO much to say about this I don’t even know where to start! This is so incredibly stupid. Who the hell do they think you are?! I am incredibly disappointed with all of the presenters here."

Equally annoyed, Dreamgirls star Nicole Raquel Dennis posted: "Playing Effie White on the UK Tour of Dreamgirls singing and I am telling you for the last 5 mins of act 1, with tears running down my face SO in it, to then hear a drunk audience member or hen party hit the last “ME” before I do is not a vibe. It’s not karaoke"

Both of those tweets came before riot police were called into the Palace Theatre to deal with crowds, after Friday's performance of The Bodyguard was ended early due to audience members singing over the top of the cast.

Sharing a photo of police outside the theatre, Nicole returned to Twitter to add: "Soooooo this is what you lot want right?? @thismorning"

Sign up to get the latest TV and showbiz news straight to your inbox with the Chronicle TV and celebs newsletter. If you can't see the form below, click HERE

READ NEXT:

  • ITV confirm start date for The Hunt for Raoul Moat
  • The Hunt for Raoul Moat - how the Chronicle played central role in manhunt drama
  • Why Hunt for Raoul Moat writer wanted to do ITV drama
  • Vera's Kenny Doughty shuts down talk of role in BBC drama
  • Jane Moore 'halts' Loose Women as co-star raises concerns for her
  • Sign up to read this article
    Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
    Already a member? Sign in here
    Related Stories
    Top stories on inkl right now
    One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
    Already a member? Sign in here
    Our Picks
    Fourteen days free
    Download the app
    One app. One membership.
    100+ trusted global sources.