James Arthur trades insults with Frankie Boyle

James Arthur trades insults with Frankie Boyle
James Arthur trades insults with Frankie Boyle (Image credit: PA)

James Arthur has became embroiled in a Twitter spat with comedian Frankie Boyle. Frankie, 40, sparked the war of words when he told his followers: "James Arthur is like a cross between a tramp and a duckling." X Factor finalist James, 24, retaliated: "Poor old man making yet more s*** jokes about X Factor because he knows that's the only way he can get attention any more." The former Mock The Week panellist continued his jibes, writing: "I think if I wanted attention I'd sing covers on a talent show, inked up like a school desk in a remedial class." James returned with: "You're about as funny as Aids. You're a sad man and I can't wait to see you coz it's about time someone gave you a reality check. "Have you seen the state of you? How can you make remarks about the way I look? "Stop using my name to try to rekindle your career and making jokes about people on TV shows is one thing but you make jokes about people with disabilities, which is a disgrace." Frankie, who in the past made jokes about Katie Price's disabled son Harvey, then branded James 'a sheep's teeth in a baby's head', adding: "Get a sense of humour you pompous alien-headed busker."

Patrick McLennan

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix. 


An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.