low graphics version | feedback | help
| Front Page World |
| UK |
| Northern Ireland Scotland Wales |
| UK Politics Business Sci/Tech Health Education Sport Entertainment Talking Point In Depth AudioVideo |
|
 The panto's Alison Glenn"Percy suddenly started swearing"  real 28k |
Panto parrot banned for swearing
 Blue lines from an Amazonian Green |
A parrot set to make its stage debut in pantomime this Christmas has been given the sack - after squawking a string of obscenities during rehearsals.
Percy, an Amazonian Green Parrot, turned the air blue in a final run-through of Pirates on Treasure Island for the Jakes Ladder Theatre Company in Blandford, Dorset.
When cued for the traditional line "Pieces of eight", the parrot came out with "P*** off, mate".
Owner 'shocked'
Assuming it was an innocent slip from an inexperienced thespian, the cast pressed on but Percy then started chanting "B****r off, b****r off", followed by a series of even ruder words.
The cast was amused but managers decided they could not risk the foul-beaked parrot offending young members of the audience.
Percy's owner is said to be shocked by his behaviour.
With the curtain due to go up for the first public performance of the show on Friday, directors are desperately searching for a more reliable stand-in.
| Search BBC News Online | |
|  Advanced search options | |
| |
 | |
 | |
| |
| BBC RADIO NEWS |
| |
| |
 | BBC ONE TV NEWS |
| |
| |
| WORLD NEWS SUMMARY |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| PROGRAMMES GUIDE |
| |
Internet links: | |
 | |
 | World Parrot Trust |
| |
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites | |
Links to other UK stories are at the foot of the page.
E-mail this story to a friend
