Applauding The Audience

[FredPuli43]

When did the practice of a performer or celebrity applauding the audience start in Britain? Nowadays, footballers applaud the fans, stars applaud the crowd, but the first time I remember this was when Yuri Gagarin applauded the crowd on his returning from space; it may have been a Russian practice that caught on

[Canary42]

It was (still is) standard practice in Russia - Kruschev brought it to the attention of the world at UN meeting if I remember right. Why we adopted it I don't know, but it really irritates me on TV quiz shows when winning candidates clap themselves.