Camilla’s terror just a riot to US TV

New York -

His aim was to work on the special relationship with our closest allies, not to mention sell a few copies of his new book.

But Gordon Brown’s appearance on a US comedy show fell spectacularly flat after he and the British royal family were ridiculed and insulted.

The former prime minister was forced to watch a scathing parody of Britishness including a section in which items ironically commemorating the student fees riots were sold off.

One of them was a plate embossed with a photo of Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall looking shocked inside their car as they were attacked by protesters.

There was also a handcrafted “commute of terror” chess set and a commemorative teaspoon with a ginger wig and Nazi logo on the side, referring to the 2005 row over Prince Harry wearing a Nazi uniform to a fancy dress party. When Brown finally made it on stage he was derided by The Daily Show host Jon Stewart for being a “socialist” and told to “run off to whatever commie meeting youÕre going to”.

Brown had appeared on the hit series to promote his book: “Beyond the Crash; Overcoming the First Crisis of Globalisation”.

But even as he waited to come on, the show’s hosts wasted no time in lampooning recent events in the UK. British comedian John Oliver paraded the “commemorative plate” featuring Charles and Camilla, which was mocked up in the style of kitchenwear sold to mark genuine royal occasions.

Referring to the student fees riots, he said: “You were probably thinking Camilla Parker Bowles’ expression was absolutely priceless, is there any way I can preserve that memory for a lifetime? The answer is now yes.”

Continuing the ironic theme, he also showed off the “commute of terror” chess set, a toy car surrounded by chess pieces with the king and queen inside the vehicle, and the spoon. When Brown was interviewed, he came across as stilted and awkward, wheeling out his famous stage grin and laughing louder than everybody else in a failed attempt to appear jocular.

He attempted to lecture the US on economic policy saying it should work with other countries more and had to “get its act together”.

Trying to inject some humour, Stewart asked: “So what you’re saying is: ‘We’re all socialists now’?” before his “commie” jibesparked more laughter from Brown. - Daily Mail