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Comedian: New Play Will Beat Off Summer Sport

Comedian: New Play Will Beat Off Summer Sport

Comedian Omid Djalili says he is optimistic his new play will continue to pull in theatre audiences despite clashing with Euro 2012 and the Olympics.

The British-Iranian performer is appearing in Joe Orton's comedy What The Butler Saw as Doctor Rance alongside Blackadder's Tim McInnerny, Samantha Bond and Georgia Moffett.

Djalili told Sky News that so far the audience figures had been good but admits resorting to bribery to keep the cast happy during the Euros.

He said: "Certainly people are coming to see this cast, we've got a great cast.

"It's a parody of a farce - it's a rollercoaster ride - and a lot of fun.

"We're all looking forward to the football as well, I have been trying to make the cast like me - I've bought them a meal and a TV so we can all watch the game," he joked.

The bawdy comedy features mistaken identity, seduction and blackmail.

It was the final play penned by playwright Joe Orton and was first performed in 1969.

What The Butler Saw is showing at the Vaudeville theatre in London until August 25.