A comedian on Channel 4’s The Last Leg has sparked quite the debate among viewers at home after a joke aimed at Dame Penny Mordaunt led to a rather heated exchange.
Irish comic Vittorio Angelone appeared alongside Ms Mordaunt on the long-running talk show to go over the week’s news headlines, ranging from the ongoing conflict in Iran to a new disability storyline in children’s animation Peppa Pig.
The incident occurred after host Adam Hills and his co-stars Alex Brooker and Josh Widdicombe turned their attention to the latter of the aforementioned topics.
“I know disability representation’s a big thing for you, Penny, because you are an ambassador for something called the Music Man Project, which we had on the show last year,” Mr Hills began.
The Last Leg: Vittorio Angelone took aim at Dame Penny
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“A whole bunch of people with learning disabilities, singing in a choir. It’s beautiful,” he added before Ms Mordaunt agreed: “They’re an amazing organisation, and they’ve actually set up an alliance for disabled musicians.
“They used to be David Amess’s charity, the MP that was murdered, and when he was killed, I stepped in and helped them, but it was always his dream and theirs to play Broadway, and we are taking them to Broadway this autumn. They’re going to play a show on Broadway.”
The 53-year-old continued: “But what we’re hoping is that the day after, we’re going to take them to the UN and we’re going to have the General Assembly room there, which will be the most useful thing that room has been used for a very long time.”
The former politician squeezed in another jibe too: “Put it this way, the scenes you’ve seen in Parliament this week with Angela Rippon will be nothing compared to what we’re going to do at the UN.
The Last Leg: Vittorio Angelone (middle) locked horns with Penny Mordaunt
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“But there’s an important message behind it, which is we’ve got to provide the opportunities for people to get involved in the arts.”
Despite the sensitive nature of the discussion, comedian Mr Angelone spotted the opportunity to unleash a critical swipe at Ms Mordaunt’s way.
“Penny’s always been such a supporter of disabled people,” Mr Angelone interjected. “Like, you’re very supportive of the prosthetics industry. You were promoting on Twitter an arms fair in Saudi Arabia recently.”
As the Channel 4 audience began to laugh and applaud, an uncomfortable Mr Brooker zipped his jacket to his face while Ms Mordaunt and Mr Angelone began to clash.
The Last Leg: Alex Brooker acknowledged the tension in the room
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“I think it’s honestly, I think-” Mr Angelone continued to say, while Ms Mordaunt protested: “You’ve got to let me respond to that.”
“No, let me finish. I think it’s great-” Mr Angelone continued to mock, but an undeterred Ms Mordaunt argued: “I would say that investing in on defence-“
“No, I’m on your side,” Mr Angelone sarcastically added, prompting Ms Mordaunt to lay a hand on his arm and remark: “I don’t think you are, sweetheart.”
“Very patronising,” Mr Angelone said before he finished his joke. “It’s such a positive thing, I think it’s brilliant. War-mongering has always been a male-dominated industry. And you really smashed the glass ceiling. I’m very proud.”
The Last Leg: Dame Penny Mordaunt stood her ground
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As the audience chuckled away, Ms Mordaunt eventually fired back: “I’d like the opportunity to introduce you to some other women that put their lives on the line to defend people like you being able to do what you want to do in your life and make jokes about the government and all sorts of things and enjoy the freedoms that we do in this country.”
Mr Angelone finished the clash with the quip: “It’s a tough sell to a guy from Belfast, do you know what I mean?”
Host Mr Hills then intervened to regain control of the show, introducing the “Mystery Guest” portion of the show.
Mr Angelone’s swipe appeared to be in reference to Ms Mordaunt’s support for the companies that attended the World Defence Show near Riyadh last month.
The Last Leg: Jamali Maddix (right) grinned as Vito and Penny clashed
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In a post on X in February, she wrote: “Many congratulations to all the UK companies who exhibited at the World Defence Show, @ADSgroupUK, @DSEI_events and @UKinSaudiArabia.”
The on-air clash prompted a rather divided reception from those watching at home, with some arguing Mr Angelone’s joke was ill-timed and insensitive given the nature of the previous discussion, while others revelled in the comedian’s attack on the former politician.
On X, those behind Ms Mordaunt hit out: “Who is the unfunny Irish comedian trying to take on Penny Mordaunt? He will get the same treatment as she used to dish out to the SNP if he tries it! #TheLastLeg.”
“Is Vittorio Angelone supposed to be funny? Just completely demeaned an important subject. Yeah, rip into Mordaunt if you like, but the charity she endorses doesn’t deserve that. #thelastleg,” a second similarly slammed.
Many congratulations to all the UK companies who exhibited at the World Defence Show, @ADSgroupUK, @DSEI_events and @UKinSaudiArabia. pic.twitter.com/XfQKIIcS0l
— Penny Mordaunt (@PennyMordaunt) February 16, 2026
Elsewhere, a third asked: “#Thelastleg #isitok for a wanna be unknown comedian to insult @PennyMordaunt who, amongst other things, was in the #RoyalNavy. Comedy is supposed to be funny.”
And a fourth also fumed: “An out-of-touch show full of leftists. I presume none of them will take the p*** out of that prat who leads the Green Party who refused to condemn the graffiti on Churchill’s statue? Just shows the shambles this country has become with shows like this. #TheLastLeg.”
However, among those who enjoyed the gag and subsequent clash was one X user who rhetorically asked: “This didn’t go how Mourdant thought it would… did it? #TheLastLeg.”
“Loved #thelastleg tonight, especially Vittorio Angelone and what he said to Penny Mordaunt. Bet it was an awkward silence in the break,” a second mocked.
Dam ePenny Mordaunt has been critical of Keir Starmer’s response to the ongoing conflict in Iran
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PA“Oooooh penny is not a happy Tory right now. The face on it is just perfect. #TheLastLeg,” a third weighed in, while a fourth typed: “@vittorioangelon on the #TheLastLeg is the best thing ever, have him on every week.” (sic)
Elsewhere during the show, Ms Mordaunt delivered her verdict on President Trump’s public statements as the conflict with Iran continues at pace.
“I think the president, if he just said to his allies, ‘I’m sorry, we’ve come to the conclusion, we can’t stop this nation getting the bomb without taking out the leadership of the regime and denuding their capabilities.’
“‘We don’t need your support to do it, but we’ll be there for you if you have to take defensive action as a consequence. And in the process, we will stop a lot of terrorism, illicit oil flows, organised crime, and give the Iranian people a chance at a brighter future.’ It would have gone down better,” she suggested.
“But that sounds like a mature thing to say from a grown-up,” Mr Hills dryly said, prompting laughter from the audience.
“There is, I think, a strategy behind this, but you can be forgiven for not knowing what that is,” Ms Mordaunt replied.
“Oh, you think there is a strategy behind this?” Mr Hills asked, to which Ms Mordaunt said: “I do, and I think there are implications for China and Russia in this as well.
“But the critical thing is, now he’s started this, he’s got to end it, because the worst outcome for this – I’m sorry, this is a light entertainment show – is if you leave part of the regime in place that’s less experienced, more fanatical at a time when the population is rising up against it, it will be very bad indeed.”
Mr Widdicombe then chipped in with a joke: “There was an episode where Hallsy was away, and we were left in charge. It was very similar.”
