C4: Boyle's use of racial language intended as satire

Broadcaster hits back after Commons committee chair attacks comedian's jibes about war in Afghanistan as 'deeply offensive'.

Alex Reid: C4 must apologise for Boyle's comments

Katie Price's husband Alex Reid has called for Channel 4 to apologise for the 'disgusting' comments made by comedian Frankie Boyle about Jordan's disabled son Harvey.

Is Frankie Boyle actually funny?

As comedian Frankie Boyle comes under fire for a 'vile' joke about Katie Price's disabled son, Heat's TV editor Boyd Hilton and Time Out's comedy editor Tim Arthur debate whether he is amusing.

Given that he only had enough decent material for one episode, Frankie Boyle really could have done with making his Tramadol Nights series into a one-off special.

Perhaps a half-hour festive programme with the tagline: 'something to offend all the family this Christmas!' would have been a runaway success.

Unfortunately, the third week in the series heralded the second episode in a row that was more gratuitously offensive than it was amusing.

Boyle re-hashed a few gags used only last week involving the supposed gravitational pull of overweight people and there wasn't one sketch that wasn't morally dubious at best. "I'm genuinely surprised I'm getting away with this," he said at one point.

Frankie, my friend, you probably aren't. Give it a few days and Ofcom will be beating down your door once again.

On the plus side, Boyle's stand-up was generally pretty sharp and quite funny and while some viewers might have winced at his one-liners, the audience members seemed perfectly happy to sit back and take in the personal insults.

But instead of starting his writing with the question: 'What will be funny?' he seems to have begun with, 'What's most likely to offend as many people as possible?'

Almost without exception, the sketches were wholly unfunny and the in-house audience seemed to be struggling to raise even the smallest of titters.

However, those who accuse Boyle of being talentless should consider this: during the course of one half-hour television show tonight, Frankie managed to offend grandparents, fat people, Colombians, cancer victims, AIDS victims and victims of sexual abuse... Now that is a unique talent.

What ARE they thinking?! Boyle insults cancer victims

More viewers complain to Ofcom after 'jokes' about cancer victims and AIDs sufferers.

Jordan: Let's boycott sick Frankie Boyle's DVD

Katie Price is urging fans to boycott sick comic Frankie Boyle's Christmas DVD over his 'jokes' about her disabled son.

Channel 4 defend Boyle over Katie Price joke repeat

Channel 4 has defended the right of comedians to make jokes which "push boundaries" after reality TV star Katie Price complained about Frankie Boyle.

Frankie Boyle's Tramadol Nights review

Mark Smith reckons the Glasgow comedian should concentrate on the jokes, not the shocks.

Jordan considering legal action against Frankie Boyle

Katie Price is consulting her lawyers after comedian Frankie Boyle made fun of her disabled son Harvey on his Channel 4 show Tramadol Nights.