what did julian clary say about norman lamont

Julian Clary made a notorious sexual joke about then-Chancellor of the Exchequer Norman Lamont during the live British Comedy Awards in 1993, implying a fisting act involving Lamont. The explicit gag caused a major media backlash at the time and led to Clary effectively being banned from live UK television for several years.

What he actually said

At the 1993 British Comedy Awards, Clary walked on stage and delivered a line to the effect that he had “just been fisting Norman Lamont,” turning a political figure into the punchline of an extremely explicit gay sex joke. The exact wording varies slightly in retellings, but all contemporary accounts agree the core of the joke was the claim he had fisted Lamont.

Why it was such a big deal

In early‑1990s British prime‑time TV culture, such an explicit reference to a specific sexual act, directed at a senior government minister, was seen as beyond the pale. Broadcasters and tabloids reacted strongly, framing it as an example of live television going too far, especially given that Lamont was there in person as a guest/presenter.

Impact on Julian Clary’s career

Clary has since said that the joke “affected [his] career” and that he was effectively removed from live TV for a period afterwards. He also later joked that if you want to “clear your diary at a stroke,” making that kind of remark on live television is a very effective way to do it.

How it’s viewed now

In later interviews and retrospectives, the incident is often discussed as an early “cancellation” moment for a gay comedian whose camp, boundary‑pushing style was already well known. Some commentators now see it as overblown moral panic, while others still argue that naming a specific politician in such a graphic way crossed a line even for edgy comedy.

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