Author says sorry for slur on Spikey

Comedy journalist Ben Thompson has apologised to Phoenix Nights star Dave Spikey after wrongly criticising his act.

In his book Sunshine On Putty, Thompson attacked Spikey for appearing on the BBC2 series Live Floor Show and performing material about 'mongs'.

But Spikey has never even been on the programme, let alone cover that sort of material.

The comic, who plays compere Jerry St Clair in the Channel 4 sitcom, said: "I certainly would never, ever attempt to get laughs at the expense of the mentally challenged

Now Thompson has offered his apologies promised to fix the mistake in the next edition of the book.

He said: "I have been in direct contact with Mr Spikey and explained in appropriately apologetic tones how this appalling case of mistaken identity made its way into the final text.

"It will of course be put right in the mass market paperback with a suitably fulsome apology appended, and I am glad to say that Mr Spikey has accepted my apology like the gentleman he is.

"It was inevitable that in such a large ­ and, though I say it myself, brilliant ­ book, the odd schoolboy error would creep in, and I am only sorry that it was such a transparently decent individual as Mr Spikey who fell foul of this rare factual lapse."

Published: 9 Feb 2004