Comedian Stan Boardman expressed his disappointment after being removed from a festival lineup. The 88-year-old, known for his appearances on shows like Through the Keyhole and This Is Your Life in the 1980s and 1990s, was set to participate in the Liverpool Book Festival at BOXPARK on March 8. However, organizers decided to withdraw him following feedback about past material being deemed inappropriate or offensive.

Boardman, who gained fame on Opportunity Knocks and famously joked about “the Germans bombing our chippy” during World War II, was taken aback by the sudden decision. His son, Paul, who co-authored his autobiography, reached out to the event organizers seeking clarification on the situation. Paul emphasized that while his father’s comedy style may have been edgy, it was not as extreme as perceived by some.

According to Paul, Stan had attended the same event without issues the previous year and the family is disheartened by his exclusion this time. The situation has caused distress among loved ones, who believe Stan’s humor was never intended to be hurtful.