Irish comedian Al Porter has stepped down from his role in the Olympia Theatre's Christmas Panto amid sexual misconduct claims.

 

Pat Egan Management released a statement about the 24-year-olds role in the show, “Due to recent developments, Al Porter is standing aside from his role in this year’s Pantomime ‘Polly and the Beanstalk’ at the Olympia Theatre.”

 

They are set to announce who Al’s replacement will be soon.

 

Polly and the Beanstalk is set to run from Friday, December 15 to January 14. The Olympia's family panto has drawn in huge crowds for years.

 

It is understood that Al Porter co-wrote this year’s show with fellow comedian Karl Spain.

 

He has appeared in the pantomime for the past two years and starred in numerous other productions since his childhood days.

 

Numerous allegations claiming that he acted inappropriately were made against the 24-year-old comedian over the weekend.

 

 

He released a statement on Sunday night where he stated that he didn’t mean to cause any offence, and went on to share that his conduct was part of his “flamboyant and outrageous public persona.”

 

The comedian has resigned from his lunchtime show on Today FM. The radio station accepted his resignation on Sunday afternoon. Al has been presenting the show since February 2017.

 

He claimed that he was unaware of the complaints. He stated, “I am truly sorry for any distress I may have caused in what I had regarded as light-hearted and good-natured circumstances.”

 

The presenter admitted that he was stunned by the uproar on social media, “I have been completely taken aback by reports in the media and on the social networks over the weekend, and by the scale and tone of the vitriol.”

 

 

Al has been advised not to comment on individual claims, “I cannot comment on specific allegations at the present time, I nonetheless sincerely apologise to anyone I may have genuinely offended.”

 

He has decided to take a break from the entertainment industry, “I have come to the personal decision that I need time away from the spotlight after decades in the entertainment industry.”

 

As well as his radio show and role in the pantomime, the comedian also presented hit TV3 show Blind Date. It has not yet been revealed if the series will continue. They issued a short statement over the weekend.

 

TV3 is aware of the allegations made against Al Porter. TV3 takes any allegations of this nature very seriously and decided it would be inappropriate to broadcast the repeat of the final episode of Blind Date scheduled for this evening.”

 

They added, “TV3 has no further comment to make at this time." 

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