Jason Manford angry at theatregoers leaving litter

Comedian and stage star Jason Manford has called it "shocking" audiences leave rubbish on theatre floors after a show, asking: "Why do people do this?"

He is starring in Jack and the Beanstalk, at Manchester Opera House, and filmed the popcorn, plastic cups and empty packets left among the seats.

"Look at it. I even tidy up after the cinema. Unbelievable - you wouldn't treat your home like that," he said.

"Pick up your stuff at the end. That's what I do."

Manford said he used to work front of house at a cinema and suggested people could just find a bin at the end.

Replying to Manford on X, formerly known as Twitter, one user said: "Theatres should remind people that they must remove their litter at the end of the show.

"My local theatre has staff standing with binbags - and most of the audience pick up their litter and clean up."

Another X user blamed "laziness" for people leaving food and wrappers on the floor.

And a third said: "Honestly, this riles me. I feel like recently there's been a huge decline in manners and general etiquette at cinemas and theatres - and I don't just mean litter either."

Music festivals such as Glastonbury employ hundreds of volunteers to return the sites to their natural beauty.

Venues such as theatres and cinemas also provide staff to pick up litter after audiences leave - but the company Waste Management Resources suggests if food is left behind, they should consider whether their portion sizes are too big and "providing litter bins and bins that offer separate compartments for recyclable items such as plastic bottles, paper cups and popcorn holders".

Environmental psychologist Lee Chambers told the Yorkshire Post littering was "more complex than people think".

"However, the more we have studied this, the more we have come to realise that both the environment and the context play a significant role," he said.

"Put simply, if an area is well maintained, and free of rubbish, then we are less likely to litter.

"Conversely, if a place has a lot of litter and poor access to rubbish bins, we are more likely to litter."

So audiences may see other people's litter as "environmental cues" to drop their own.

Littering had surged after lockdown, environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy said, in 2020, after the collection of rubbish and recycling had been disrupted in some areas by the pandemic.

"If you see a place that's full of litter and a mess, you're more likely to think that it doesn't matter," coaching psychologist Stephen Palmer, of the International Academy for Professional Development and University of Wales, told BBC Worklife.

"If you actually see someone dropping litter, you're probably more likely to drop litter yourself."

In countries such as Japan, not dropping litter is part of their culture, with the World Economic Forum saying: "Most Japanese people will take their rubbish home with them rather than dispose of it when out and about."

It is aimed at raising awareness of environment protection, according to Euronews.

BBC News has contacted several anti-litter groups in Manchester for comment, along with the UK Cinema Association and UK Theatre.