‘He was incredibly hurt’: Barry Humphries felt unwelcome in Melbourne, David Walliams reveals

David Walliams has reflected on his friendship with the late Barry Humphries — revealing the star felt unwelcome in Melbourne after the being “cancelled” over a “throwaway remark”.

Little Britain star David Walliams says Barry Humphries was “incredibly hurt” by the Melbourne International Comedy Festival backlash.

Walliams, a comedian, actor and best-selling author, said the late Australian comedy legend also felt unwelcome in Melbourne — the city that shaped his most iconic character, Moonee Ponds dame, Edna Everage.

“I knew Barry very well. We’d go out for lunch and dinners. He was a huge influence in my life,” Walliams said.

David Walliams said his friend Barry Humphries was ‘incredibly hurt’ when his name was dropped from the Comedy Festival’s top prize. Picture: Getty Images

Asked how Humphries felt about the Melbourne International Comedy Festival removing his name from its top prize — the Barry Award — after he made controversial comments about transgender people, Walliams said: “He was incredibly hurt. But why expect a man in his 80s to have the same opinions as people 50 years younger than him? Why expect that?

“You should also be able to hold an opinion, and you should not be cancelled for your opinion. The idea you want a person silenced because they don’t hold what you think are the correct views is dangerous.”

Barry Humphries felt unwelcome in Melbourne following MICF backlash, according to his friend David Walliams. Picture: Getty Images

Walliams said Humphries wasn’t angry about the MICF’s actions. “But he was very upset about it,” Walliams added. “I could see how sad it made him when he talked about it. He made what many might consider a throwaway remark. He’s entitled to his opinion.

“I felt really bad for him because I knew what a good man he was. I knew that Melbourne meant so much to him. To not feel welcome when you’re a global star for 50 years plus, and so much of your material is about being Australian ... I think there’s probably now a feeling it was the wrong thing to do.”

Walliams said Humphries welcomed, wined and dined he and Little Britain co-star Matt Lucas during their 2007 Australian tour.

Humphries attended their show at Melbourne Park and took them to them to lunch at the Flower Drum the following day.

Walliams said: “We were absolutely buzzing because we were having lunch with our comedy idol. It was mind-blowing. Melbourne will always be special because it was the first place we launched our career (outside of England) ... and the audience loved us more than anywhere we’d ever been. Barry being there made the whole thing magic.”

David Walliams reflects on the time he spent with friend Humphries in Melbourne while on tour in Australia. Picture: Tony Gough

Walliams said Humphries was delightful company.

“He was hilarious and quite naughty. Some of his jokes were really extreme,” Walliams said.

“When comedians get older, they bitch about the younger comedians. He was quite the opposite. He loved spending time with the younger set, and he liked being loved and treasured.”

Humphries died in April last year. He was 89.

Walliams will perform his book show for children, and a comedy set for adults, at the Plenary Theatre on October 5.

Originally published as ‘He was incredibly hurt’: Barry Humphries felt unwelcome in Melbourne, David Walliams reveals