That’s not the way to do it! Now Punch can’t hit Judy

A CHILDrEN’S entertainer has told how he was forced to cancel a Punch and Judy show at a primary school because of fears that it portrayed domestic violence.

Brian Llewellyn, 64, was asked to ensure that Punch did not hit Judy – even though that is a key element of the show. He also had to scrap a performance at an Armed Forces Day event because it was due to take place near a women’s refuge.

Now Mr Llewellyn, who has been staging Punch and Judy shows for 41 years, has criticised ‘snowflakes’ for spoiling summer fun.

The entertainer, from Darlington, said on his Facebook page: ‘Stop reading too much into the show! It is just a silly little puppet show with lumps of wood. It does not glorify violence, there are no hidden agendas, no hurtful intentions, and no racism. It is simply slapstick humour.’

Punch and Judy, which has Italian origins, was first performed in England in 1662. Punch vents his anger at characters, including his wife and baby, by beating them with his stick – yelling ‘That’s the way to do it!’

Mr Llewellyn said: ‘Punch and Judy does not glorify wife beating or child beating. It’s a moral story about him being horrible and bashing everybody in the show. At the end he gets locked up.’