Adam Kay postpones live show performances over coronavirus

Writer and comedian Adam Kay, who earlier today announced his high-profile move from publisher Pan Macmillan to Hachette’s Orion, has revealed he is postponing upcoming performances of his show “This is Going to Hurt”, based on his bestselling memoir, because of coronavirus concerns.

Kay had a string of performances scheduled, including in Ipswich, Bradford, Wimbledon, Manchester, Newcastle, Blackpool and London.

In a statement, Kay said: “I have made the difficult decision to postpone all performances of ‘This is Going to Hurt’ in March and April. I was due to perform at a dozen theatres across the UK and, by assembling nearly 20,000 audience members in confined spaces, I would be putting them at risk. The risk appears to be relatively small at the moment, but it’s clearly increasing, and is ultimately an unnecessary one.

“I am truly sorry for any disappointment, but health must always come first. Please continue to take sensible measures with respect to hand washing and social distancing, and look after not just yourselves but the elderly and vulnerable in your lives. And thank you to all NHS staff going above and beyond, as always, to keep the rest of us safe.”

Box offices will be in touch with ticket-holders regarding refunds and rescheduling, the author said.

The announcement was greeted with approval on Twitter, with fans commending his “wise” decision.