TV Comic Chases out Heckler in Punch-up

Comedian Steve Coogan chased a heckler who punched a fellow comic in the face after a show in Brighton last night.

Steve, best known for his comedy characters Alan Partridge and Paul Calf, was there to cheer on his friend Stephen Grant, who comperes the Crater Comedy Club at the Komedia theatre.

Stephen had been continually heckled while he was on stage but gave back as good as he got.

But after his performance he was sitting at the back of the theatre amongst the audience when he was punched.

Stephen, 26, said today: "My friends were holding me back after the guy hit me and telling me it wasn't worth it but Steve pushed right past and chased after him."

Stephen met Steve at the Edinburgh Festival in 1998. The comedy pair became friends after discovering they both lived in Brighton.

Stephen said: "He's been a really good friend, encouraging me with my writing and stuff. He was just down there to say hello to me. I don't think he expected he would end up rushing to my rescue."

Stephen, who has been a regular on the Brighton comedy circuit for several years, admits he doesn't pull any punches when it comes to heckling.  He said: "I never let anyone get one over on me."  But this time the heckler lashed out and Stephen was left bleeding from a cut to the cheek.

The comedian couldn't identify his attacker because bright lights made it hard to see the audience. He said: "People think I am brave to take the mickey out of people twice my size but I can't even see them.

"I said a few things which might have offended people, so I really can't say who it was.

"Someone with an American accent called out and I said 'Either you're American or you are trying to impersonate an American and either way I don't want to talk to you'. I guess it could have been him."

The baby-faced comic also joked to one heckler: "This is the closest you've been to a youngster since the restraining order."  He said: "I'm proud that my jokes are hard-hitting, but this was taking it too far."

A spokesman for the Komedia said: "Heckling is part of a comedy night. In most cases, the comedian deals with it very well and it can be funny but sometimes it offends people.