Vince Earl, best known for his role as Ron Dixon, issued a statement after the Royal Court said it would no longer work with the actor
18:42, 13 Nov 2025Updated 18:44, 13 Nov 2025
Former Brookside actor Vince Earl – Pic from: Andy Stenning(Image: Daily Mirror)
Former Brookside star Vince Earl apologised after he was accused of making racist remarks on stage at the Royal Court. The Liverpool venue has said it will no longer be working with the 81-year-old and pledged all artists appearing on its stage going forward will need to agree to an anti-racism statement.
The Royal Court launched an internal review following comments made during a comedy routine last month. Mr Earl, who is best known for his role as Ron Dixon in the Merseyside soap, was part of the line-up at the Doddy Day Happiness Show on October 26.
The event, now in its sixth year, was held at the Liverpool theatre in celebration of late comedian Ken Dodd‘s legacy with an afternoon of music and comedy. However, the event was mired in controversy. The ECHO was told some members of the audience got up and left during Mr Earl’s set as they were offended by the material included.
A look inside the Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool(Image: Liverpool Echo)
After being approached by the ECHO, the theatre was unable to confirm if people did exit during the show. But Mr Earl has since apologised for the material included in his set describing it as a “lapse of judgement”. The apology comes as the Royal Court’s CEO issued a statement to the ECHO saying she was “horrified” by the comments.
Gillian Miller said: “We are horrified, as a theatre, that this happened on our stage. We have apologised to all attendees for the offensive comments that were made. We have told the performer he will not appear on our stage again.
“Our review includes ensuring all artists for events such as this sign up to our anti-racism statement. This is part of our wider work in equality, diversity and inclusion including a new role within the organisation and staff training.
“Our audience includes people of all ages and from every postcode in the city. There’s a rise in racism and intolerance in society and people feel under threat because of it.
“Our role as an arts venue is to be an inclusive space, to raise awareness and to tackle it through our work and actions.” Mr Earl, who appeared in Brookside from 1990 – 2003, has issued an apology following the incident and said he regrets making the comments on stage.
Senior Partner at Haworth & Gallagher Solicitors Tony Nelson was instructed by Mr Earl to make the following statement on his behalf. He told the ECHO: “My client has been entertaining the Liverpool public as a singer and subsequently as an actor and a comedian for over 60 years.
“His role in life has always been to bring enjoyment to his audiences and to entertain them and bring fun to their lives.
“This lapse of judgement is sincerely regretted by him and I want to make it very clear that he meant no offence to anybody and he has informed the Royal Court that he wishes to forfeit his fee for the show and instead to donate it to charity.
“This is an isolated and unfortunate lapse of judgement for which my client is deeply sorry and has instructed me to confirm that he meant no offence to anybody and that he is not nor has never been racist in any way.”
The Ken Dodd Charity Foundation has also issued a statement on the incident with a spokesman telling the ECHO: “The Doddy Day Happiness Show is an annual event staged at the Royal Court Theatre to celebrate the memory of legendary comedian Sir Ken Dodd.
“Though Anne, Lady Dodd, and family members attended this show and Lady Dodd was on stage for a brief interview during the show, the Ken Dodd Charitable Foundation was not involved in the production of the show or for the booking of artists who took part.”