Per Inge Torkelsen (21 March 1953 – 22 June 2021) was a Norwegian comedian, author, radio personality, and self declared clown.

He was known for the Norwegian expression "Gi ungdommen en flaske brennevin før idretten tar dem" (English: Give the youth a bottle of liquor before they are lost to athletics).

He was also the host of children's television programmes in Norway and for a time he had a permanent role as part of the long-running NRK program Norge rundt.

But after some time, Torkelsen contacted the regional newspaper Stavanger Aftenblad in order to tell the truth about the coins.

[2][3] Oddmund Møllerop, the director of the Stavanger archaeological museum at the time, said that Torkelsen had planted the coins in the perfect spot.

Torkelsen was one of the founders of Den Store Norske Humorfestivalen (English: The Big Norwegian Comedy Festival).

In 2000 there was much debate and resentment from the public when Torkelsen released the book Den store stygge eldreboka (English: The big ugly elderly book), which he initially wanted to call Drep de eldre (English: Kill the elderly).

However, despite his perceived hatred of sports, Torkelsen did in fact regularly attend the home games of his local football team Viking FK.