How do you make a Maltese cross? Charge him an unreasonable price for a comedy gig, apparently.

Acclaimed British comedian Jimmy Carr waded into the controversy surrounding ticket prices for his April live show at Eden Cinemas, tweeting: “I seem to have made the Maltese cross - we'll do our best to get the gig back on sale at a reasonable price asap.”

The pun may not be the most original Carr has ever come up with, but it did provoke a few responses from among his 6.2 million Twitter followers.

“Everything seems to make the Maltese cross,” Jane Twibill remarked, quite reasonably, prompting Matthew Farrugia to hit back with a dry: “Try living among us.”

Meanwhile, matching Carr in the terrible pun category, Desiree Attard responded by urging the comedian “not to be a Mal-teaser” and “give us the gig soon”.

Maltese fans were left incensed after Eden announced that the cheapest tickets for the show, part of Carr’s Funny Business global tour, would be priced at €50, with the top tier at €120 – despite Carr’s website advertising tickets at £25 (€32).

The organisers have since said they are working with Carr’s agent to find a larger venue for the show, which will allow for more reasonable ticket prices. Sales – which crashed the Eden website with demand when first announced – have been suspended while the matter is sorted out.