‘Big John’ Fisher’s Australian takeaway: get the right visa next time

British social media personality “Big John” Fisher has cut short a tour and appearances in Australia after saying he was detained by immigration officers for arriving on the wrong visa.

Fisher, who is famous for his love of Chinese takeaway and reviews of fast food and has almost 700,000 followers on Instagram, said he was held for four hours by Australian Border Force officers after arriving in Perth on Tuesday.

Fisher had been due to make four appearances in Australia this week, including at Perth’s Ascot Racecourse and Sydney’s Wentworth Park greyhound track. It is understood Fisher was travelling on a tourist visa while visiting Australia for professional reasons. All visitors to Australia must satisfy the requirements of the Migration Act and regulations.

Fisher told the Metro newspaper he had not hidden the fact that he was in Australia on business. “The [border force officer said], ‘Your visa doesn’t allow other people to profit from your work’, referencing the companies I was working for,” he said. “Well, no one told me.”

In a video that has more than 300,000 views, Fisher said on Tuesday evening that he was in a “holding hotel” and would fly home on Wednesday, his birthday. “They’re not happy with what I’m doing here so they’re sending me home,” he said.

“So, sorry Australia, sorry Perth, sorry Sydney, I won’t be at any of my appearances this weekend.”

He signed off with his customary “bosh” before adding “or no bosh”.

Late on Wednesday morning, he said via social media that being detained was “quite simply one of the worst experiences of my life” and that he was “treated like a criminal by Perth border control” and had his wallet and possessions confiscated.

In a comment on Instagram, he said he told the Australian Border Force (ABF) he would cancel his “meet and greets” and “have a 100% pure holiday” but that he had still been forced to turn around.

He said he was now looking forward to getting home to his family and “good old England”.

Fisher’s son Johnny, a heavyweight boxer known as the Romford Bull, confirmed his father was being sent home. In a post on Instagram, he wrote that “rumour has it [the Aussies] are frightened of his express pace bowling ahead of the Ashes”.

An ABF spokesperson said that due to privacy obligations, the agency could not comment on individual cases.