COMEDIAN Dave McSavage has revealed how he nearly blew his biggest ever gig — by calling the Taoiseach “an Indian queer” .

The 53-year-old found himself sharing a stage with the biggest names in Irish comedy at a massive benefit in the 3Arena on St Patrick’s Night.

5 Comedian Dave McSavage nearly blew his biggest ever gig Credit: Crispin Rodwell - The Sun Dublin

5 Taoiseach Leo Varadkar

But the controversial star’s performance raised a few eyebrows after he opened up his set as his infamous Savage Eye character Mick ‘The Bull’ Daly.

Dave told the Irish Sun: “They put me on third from last, probably so I wouldn’t upset anyone. So I got out onto this huge stage and I start doing Bull Mick off the Savage Eye, that really homophobic barman.

“I go into character and start telling the crowd, ‘There’s a f***ing queer running the country — worse than that, an Indian queer’.

“The only problem is a large part of the audience never saw the Savage Eye on TV and they think I’m being serious. The whole place goes quiet because they think I’ve crossed the line.

“So suddenly I’ve to jump out of character and say, ‘Listen, it’s not me saying this, it’s this character the Bull Mick I do on the Savage Eye.’

“I just about got away . . . I know it was the 3Arena, I played it like it was the International Bar, and just about got away with it.”

MCSAVAGE TURNS CRITICAL EYE ON HIMSELF

Featuring big names like Tommy Tiernan, Pat Shortt and Neil Delamere, the third Comic Relief Patrick’s Night Show turned out to be a massive success, raising €250,000 for good causes.

But it was the first time Dave had been invited to take part. He explained: “I was glad I did it because Deirdre O’Kane organised it and she’s totally sound, right back to when I was doing my earliest gigs with her.”

But he admits there was a tension backstage when he came face to face with at least one of the big Irish comedy names taking part.

Dave recounted: “There was this huge screen relaying who was on the main stage and people were staring at it in complete silence.

“I suppose the other comedians were fearful that somebody else would go onstage and be funnier.

“There was one comic there, I don’t like him and he doesn’t like me because I’ve slagged him off in the past. So we were avoiding each other like hammerhead sharks.

“It’s all a bit silly really because we all do different strands of comedy. Even if you don’t like comics, you should still talk to them. People don’t forget”.

'BRENDAN O'CONNOR ONLY LIKES ME BECAUSE I'M LESS FAMOUS'

It’s now five years since his satirical comedy the Savage Eye finished on RTE but he still has plenty of fans who will no doubt turn out to see his upcoming shows.

And TV host Brendan O’Connor lavished praise on the comic for a recent gig in Dublin’s Olympia, insisting: “Nobody can touch Dave McSavage in Ireland. He was just so brave about everything he does.”

Sitting outside Hogans Bar on Fade Street in the capital, Dave’s response is typically McSavage.

He said: “It was nice of Brendan to say that. I think he likes me because I’m not as successful as he is. People like a heroic failure but any support is appreciated.”

Brendan had also claimed it was “a tragedy” that Dave wasn’t on TV.

Some would say that’s because RTE has no interest now in making shows by middle-aged men.

But Dave has his own theories, saying: “I assume RTE researches who is watching comedy and want to make it for that audience.

“Amy Huberman has become a national treasure by attaching herself to Brian O’Driscoll, who risked his life for Ireland by charging into a bunch of Maori rugby players.

“Who cares if it’s any good or not? There is nothing wrong with Amy Huberman having a dream — just pick the right one. Saying that, comedy is an incredibly hard thing to pull off. But RTE always go for the path of least resistance. They go for non-risky comedy.

“The sad thing about RTE is that they have superb cameramen, the best sound men, genius make-up people but fall down by not finding the least expensive, most essential part of the production — the writers.

“RTE just won’t push the boat out. I don’t blame them though, there are plenty of other places to bring your ideas. Blaming RTE is ridiculous, you will get your idea on air if you are determined enough.

“All you need is a camera and an editing package, that’s how I made the pilot for the Savage Eye.”

'AWFUL GAME OF THRONES INTERVIEW'

It’s not as if Dave hasn’t been keeping busy in the past few years, after being cast by director John Michael McDonagh in 2014 film Calvary and acting opposite Pierce Brosnan in 2016’s IT, which was set in Dublin’s Docklands.

And last year, he jetted to Italy to star in new Hulu mini-series Catch 22, based on the Joseph Heller novel and directed by George Clooney.

But what nobody knows is that an even bigger role passed Dave by — on Game of Thrones

Dave revealed: “I was down to play ‘Lord Car Share’ or something. But they wanted me to do an audition and I had less than zero interest for something that sounded like a game of chess.”

He added: “I didn’t have a clue what they were all talking about and didn’t connect to it so I did an awful audition.

“I was glad because recently I saw an awful doc called The Making of Game of Thrones and all the actors were on trying to look like team players, and going on about what a great show it was.

“But all I could see in their eyes was fear of not having work. So they were too scared of having a proper opinion.

“But all you hear on TV and radio all day long are homogenised opinions because actors and television presenters are too scared to say anything.”

GETTING AWAY WITH THE SAVAGE EYE

I reminded him that RTE did commission four seasons of the outrageous Savage Eye, which scooped a Celtic Media Award.

Dave said: “People still ask, ‘How did you get away with that stuff on the Savage Eye?’ I always reply, ‘How did the Catholic Church get away with what they were doing? How did the banks get away with it?’ Really, who gives a f*** about satire? I guess the Savage Eye was a breath of fresh air on RTE because it finally reflected what people were saying and not the bland stuff you hear all day.”

As the satirical show’s frontman, Dave is keen to credit his fellow cast and writers, like Father Ted star Patrick McDonnell.

He said: “Patrick wrote a lot of series three and four.

“And the whole team was great. John Colleary, Damien O’Donnell, and Kieron J Walsh, and it was my show. The Savage Eye is over a long time now but it’s helped me to scrape a living by doing little gigs around the country.”

Currently in the early stages of a new TV project, Dave added: “I just need to give it one more push.”

And the stand-up insists he is generally happy with his lot.

Drinking Coca-Cola in the sunshine, he’s been off the booze for over a decade. He also enjoys a good relationship with his two sons, Daniel, 25, and 19-year-old Jack.

Dave said: “My son Daniel is in comedy and does the door on the International Bar’s Comedy Cellar, taking the tickets and paying the comedians. Sometimes paying me!

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“I think he stands by the stage sometimes making sure I don’t say something too outrageous.”

It was a civilised interview but I’ve learned to always expect the unexpected from Dave McSavage. And sure enough, when our chat was over and the Irish Sun photographer arrived, Dave produced his own camera and chased Crispin Rodwell up the street interviewing him as he took his picture.

CATCH Dave McSavage at The Mermaid Arts Centre in Bray, Co Wicklow on April 26, and Moat Theatre, Naas, Co Kildare on May 3.

5 Brendan O'Connor Credit: Crispin Rodwell - The Sun Dublin

5 Amy Huberman Credit: Getty Images - Getty