Jimmy Carr's involvement in K2 tax avoidance scheme

In June 2012, Jimmy Carr's involvement in an alleged K2 tax avoidance scheme came to light after an investigation by The Times. The scheme involved UK earners 'quitting' their job and signing new employment contracts with offshore shell companies based in the low-tax jurisdiction of Jersey. Prime Minister David Cameron criticized Carr, stating that he was taking money from ticket sales and putting it into dodgy tax-avoiding schemes. Carr subsequently pulled out of the scheme and apologized for his 'terrible error of judgement'. The viewing figures of his show '8 out of 10 Cats' almost doubled following his apology. Earlier in 2012, Carr had lampooned tax avoiders on '10 O'Clock Live'. In February 2018, Carr appeared on 'Room 101' and discussed the controversy, pointing out the hypocrisy in Cameron's comments given the involvement of Cameron's family and Queen Elizabeth II in later tax evasion scandals. Carr continues to reference the scandal in his performances and public appearances.