Industry News

Ricky Gervais aims to beat ‘scummy’ touts with platinum tickets

British comedian Ricky Gervais is allocating a limited number of ‘platinum’ tickets across his worldwide stand-up tour in an attempt to beat touts.

Last week, Gervais announced the American, Canadian and European dates of Humanity, his first worldwide stand-up tour in seven years.

In a plan to stop ticket prices rocketing on secondary markets, Gervais explained that the ‘platinum’ ticket means premium seats are guaranteed and priced at market rates.

Gervais will donate the extra profits from the UK tickets sold via Ticketmaster Platinum, equally, to Macmillan Cancer Support and the RSPCA.

He explained: “My frustration with touts is twofold: people spending way over the odds on tickets from illegal touts and, the association that ticket touts are connected in some way to my tour without my consent.

“Platinum tickets feels like a good way to try and stand up against ticket touts making a fast buck by exploiting fans and this way people willing to pay higher prices will at least know it’s going to charity instead of some scummy tout.

“If this scheme works it will take back some of the millions of pounds scalped every year by touts and divert it to worthy causes. I will split the extra profits generated between Macmillan Cancer Support and the RSPCA.”