Calls to Remove Convicted Rolf Harris from Blackpool Comedy Carpet

Blackpool Council faces calls to remove the name of the late entertainer Rolf Harris from its Comedy Carpet, a public art installation honoring comedy legends near Blackpool Tower. Harris's name remains on the display despite his 2014 conviction for twelve counts of indecent assault against young girls, for which he was sentenced to five years and nine months in prison. Community leader Eddie Fewings, who has been active in local groups, insists that Harris's name should have been removed years ago and argues that it tarnishes Blackpool's tribute to comedy heroes. The Comedy Carpet, created by artist Gordon Young and unveiled in 2011, features over 850 names and catchphrases from famous entertainers who performed in the resort, including Harris, who appeared in summer shows in the mid-1980s. Fewings expressed frustration over the council's lack of response to his requests for removal, emphasizing that celebrating someone convicted of such offences is inappropriate, especially amid calls for inquiries into grooming gangs in Blackpool. Harris died in 2023, seven years after his release from prison, but the debate over his legacy on the Comedy Carpet continues.