Comedian Billy Connolly is reported to have walked off stage early twice within a week after being heckled on stage.

The 69-year-old comic and actor ended the show at Blackpool Opera Theatre 20 minutes early after being verbally abused by audience members last weekend.

He is also reported to have walked off stage without finishing his set at Scarborough Futurist Theatre days earlier, after being disrupted by drunken hecklers.

A Blackpool Opera Theatre spokesman said: "All I can confirm is that the performance ended at 9.40pm.

"It was estimated to end at around 10pm."

Fans told a local newspaper they were disappointed by the star's early departure.

His reaction to the hecklers has prompted criticism from some fans, writing on website blogs and social networking sites.

Connolly was voted the UK's most influential stand-up comedian of all time in a poll earlier this week.

IN DETAIL

• Billy Connolly voted 'most influential stand-up comedian of all time'