Geordie comedian Chris Ramsey was arrested in his underpants when police barged into his hotel room at midnight.
The 29-year-old, from South Shields, Newcastle, was relaxing ahead of his live show at London’s Lyric Theatre, when officers broke down his hotel door on Sunday night.
Ramsey was forced against a wall and handcuffed by an officer, in what turned out to be a case of mistaken identity.
Currently touring the UK with his latest show, All Growed Up, the comedian provided a running commentary of events on Twitter.
Well… The police have DEFINITELY just kicked my hotel door in and handcuffed me!! I'm fucking shaking!!
— Chris Ramsey (@IAmChrisRamsey) February 29, 2016
Hotel staff ID'd me as someone who had been in the hotel earlier threatening staff with a knife. So when I checked in just now they called
— Chris Ramsey (@IAmChrisRamsey) February 29, 2016
the police and sent them up to my room! I kept asking 'is this a joke!?' When he said 'no come with us'
— Chris Ramsey (@IAmChrisRamsey) February 29, 2016
Police put the handcuffs on me and began to march me out of my room when I shouted 'but I'm in my kegs!'
— Chris Ramsey (@IAmChrisRamsey) February 29, 2016
I love the idea that someone who was in earlier threatening staff with a knife, would then check in later for a kip!!
— Chris Ramsey (@IAmChrisRamsey) February 29, 2016
He later tweeted that he thought “it was Ant and Dec or Keith Lemon” playing a joke.
After the police left, he wrote: “Just had an interesting chat with the night manager … Currently drinking beers from the minibar … I doubt they’ll be on the bill when I leave.”
But later he saw the funny side, adding: “About to go down for hotel breakfast … I’m wearing a black T-shirt and a cap. Just in case I get mistaken for a murderer or something.”
About to go down for hotel breakfast… I'm wearing a black t shirt and a cap. Just in case I get mistaken for a murdered or something
— Chris Ramsey (@IAmChrisRamsey) February 29, 2016
A spokeswoman for the comedian confirmed that four officers were involved in the incident, in which Ramsey was forcibly detained.
A spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Police said officers were called to a “racially aggravated” incident involving a man threatening hotel staff with a knife.
She added that officers returned at 12.36am, when they mistakenly detained – and later released – Ramsey.
Help support quality local journalism … become a digital subscriber to the Evening Express
For as little as £5.99 a month you can access all of our content, including Premium articles.
Subscribe