Viewers' outrage as comedian Andy Hamilton jokes that Theresa May might have dementia on BBC's Have I Got News for You

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Comedian Andy Hamilton has landed himself in hot water after joking that Theresa May might have dementia on Have I Got News For You.

Referring to the Mrs May’s often repeated slogans, the Outnumbered writer and director suggested that the Prime Minister may suffer from memory loss, rather than trying put across a message across to voters.

In Friday night's episode of the BBC comedy panel show, Hamilton said: “It struck me that normally if someone repeated themselves that incessantly, you'd get them checked out for Alzheimer's.

“I'm not saying that the Prime Minister has dementia, but what I'm saying is if she doesn't want people to start wondering about that, she should stop repeating herself.

Andy Hamilton has landed himself in hot water over the comments
BBC

“She's forgetting a lot of stuff - she's forgotten her original position on Brexit pretty quickly. I'm not saying she's got dementia but if next week she's giving a press conference in her pyjamas, you heard it here first.”

He referenced it again shortly after, following a clip showing the Prime Minister being turned away from houses in Scotland, where she was canvassing this week.

He said: "Without wishing to labour the dementia thing, she's wandering around the streets, and she has to have a young man with her to show her how to use a doorbell.”

Hamilton appeared on the Friday night's episode of the comedy panel show
BBC

While the audience and other panellists on the show laughed, many viewers of the BBC panel show took to Twitter in anger over the comments.

Sarah Bryans said: "Love Andy Hamilton but making jokes about #Dementia just isn't acceptable or funny."

Tracey Stanley added: "Sorry #HIGNFY, really not acceptable to make a joke out of dementia. Get back to the politics."

Shelia Marsh said: "Andy Hamilton demeans himself by those comments about dementia. Shame as he's otherwise great."

Friday night’s episode was hosted by Alexander Armstrong, with the guest panellists Andy Hamilton and Sara Pascoe as well as regular panellists Ian Hislop and Paul Merton.

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