Al Murray thinks people who get "offended by a joke" have no sense of humour.
The 50-year-old comedian has slammed those who brand jokes made by fellow funnymen such as Ricky Gervais – who is known for his near-the-knuckle comedy – as "offensive", as he says they simply use the term as an excuse for anything they don’t find funny.
Al said: "When someone’s offended by a joke, what they’re really saying is, ‘I don’t think that’s funny’. They then explain why they don’t think it’s funny by saying they’re offended.
"I’ve never sat thinking, ‘How do I offend people?’. All I’m worried about is making people laugh.
"But the thing about offence anyway is that Ricky doesn’t offend his audience, they love what he does. So he’s not really offending anyone. If he offended his audience they wouldn’t turn up."
The ‘Why Does Everyone Hate The English?’ star is set to host a new quiz show – entitled ‘Al Murray’s Great British Pub Quiz’ – on Quest from March 7, which involves two teams of quiz nuts representing their favourite pub in a series of rounds.
Former ‘EastEnders’ star Shaun Williamson is a regular on the show, with Ed Byrne, Kerry Godliman and Phill Jupitus also featuring in the series.
And despite having appeared on a range of television shows including ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ back in 2004, Al insists he won’t return to reality television, especially not for a part in ‘Strictly Come Dancing’.
Speaking to The Sun newspaper’s Bizarre TV column, the comedian said: "I would never do Strictly. One of my things with being a comic is I’m quite happy to make a fool of myself but on my terms."
Al Murray: People who are offended by jokes have no sense of humour
