I’ve finally been offended by a joke

I went to the O2 on Sunday night to see the comedians Dave Chappelle and Chris Rock. Chappelle, who survived an attempt to cancel him last year, didn’t disappoint, delivering some hilarious, politically incorrect jokes, and Rock was equally seditious, although his set went on for too long. But the rest of the evening was pretty painful.

The effort it takes to get to this relic of the New Labour era is truly Herculean. Indeed, Rock made a joke about it, claiming he’d set off from his hotel on Wednesday morning and only just arrived. The Tube station is North Greenwich, one beyond Canary Wharf, and your only hope of getting there in less than 90 minutes from west London is via jet ski along the Thames.

Once you arrive at the hideous carbuncle, you’re herded to your ‘gate’ like a pig being shown to its pen, and if you feel like a beer or a snack you have to queue for 45 minutes. That’s a recipe for boredom, not least because your mobile phone is placed in a sealed pouch the moment you arrive. If you still have an appetite by the time you get to the serving hatch, a hamburger and chips will cost you £16.50, and a pint of Budweiser – the only draft lager available – is £7.65. I’ve had cheaper meals at Michelin-starred restaurants, and this was on top of the £150 I’d paid for two tickets. If you have any goodwill left by the time you take your seat, you’re a better person than me.