THEATRE goers at Bridport didn’t see the funny side when the top billing comedian failed to turn up.

Some customers were left disappointed when Have I Got News for You star Reginald D Hunter didn’t appear for a sell-out gig at the Electric Palace.

The American comedian was apparently locked away in a house for new TV show The Bubble.

Due to a communications breakdown the information wasn’t passed on to the Palace until the last minute.

Peter and Lydia Roe were surprised to when they were told an unnamed comic would be filling in for the star.

On the night they were refused a refund for their £10 tickets but offered half price tickets for a future performance.

Mr Roe, 47, of Bridport, said he and his wife went home instead of watching the stand-in, whom he claimed staff didn’t know the name of.

He did manage to get a refund the following day but said he wasn’t happy with the way the situation was handled.

Mr Roe said: “We are impressed that such high profile comedians are coming to Dorset but were left nonplussed with the attitude of the Electric Palace. We’ve got tickets to see another comedian in a couple of months and I hope this situation doesn’t arise again.”

Another theatre goer said: “We were all really disappointed but actually it was a really good night and the comedian magician was amazing. We are looking forward to seeing Reginald Hunter next time.”

In The Bubble, which starts tonight on BBC2, Mr Hunter had to be locked away for days in a country house with no contact with the outside world before appearing on the show.

Electric Palace manager Gabby Hitchin said this information wasn’t communicated between his television agent and his live agent until the last minute and by then it was too late to notify customers.

She sent her sincere apologies to customers but stressed that most of them were happy to stay and watch Edinburgh Festival regular Pete Firman.

Customers who watched the show were offered priority tickets at half price for the next Reginald D Hunter show in mid March. Those that didn’t were able to keep their tickets or get a refund.

Miss Hitchin said refunds could not be given on the night because it was so chaotic.

Later she added: “I would like to say thank you to our Electric Comedy audience and express how much their understanding and positivity was appreciated by both myself and the Palace team. I very much look forward to welcoming everybody back in March.”

Lisa White, spokeswoman for Mr Hunter’s management team said: “His agency for TV work, International Artistes, made a huge oversight in not telling us that he was taking part in the TV show ‘The Bubble’ which requires him to be locked away with no contact with the outside world. We are outraged that this information was not passed to us and send our sincere apologies to everyone who is understandably disappointed and inconvenienced by this.

Event organsier Will Briggs said: “We are working on a new date in March for a re-scheduled show with Reginald D Hunter now and I offer my sincere apologies for any inconvenience caused. I would like to thank everybody for their understanding on the night, it was greatly appreciated and also the Electric Palace staff for their professional and polite response to the situation.