Clarification

We understand a recent articleregarding David Baddiel may have given rise to the implication that he is part of the management or a shareholder of the company Winchester Entertainment plc. That inference is incorrect. We are happy to clarify that he has no connection what so ever with Winchester other than a contract as an executive producer via a third party in a film development deal.

Winchester's value plummeted this week after it warned the Alternative Investment Market that results would be "substantially" below those of the previous year.

The company's chief executive Gary Smith may be investigated by the Stock Exchange after selling his £592,000-worth of shares just two weeks before the announcement, although a company spokesman said Smith had no knowledge of the revenue warning before a board meeting on Monday,.

In November, the group signed Baddiel as a 'comedy tzar' to lead its quest for new British comedy films to rival the likes of The Full Monty and Bridget Jones's Diary.

Several films are ready to be made under the scheme, which a spokesman for Baddiel said was "completely unaffected" by the news.

Published: 8 Feb 2002