Langham vows to fight child porn rap

Chris Langham has vowed to fight to clear his name after being charged with downloading child pornography from the internet.

The 57-year-old Thick Of It star said he was ‘devastated’ to learn that he would face 15 counts of making indecent images of children.

In a statement issued through his solicitors, Langham said: ‘I am devastated to have been charged with offences arising from a police investigation.

‘I am anxious to clear my name and although there is a great deal I would like to say, I am unable to do so as a result of the legal proceedings.

‘I request once again that the privacy of my family is respected and thank the media for their restraint in this regard so far. I will not be making any further comment.’

Langham, who lives in Cranbrook, Kent, has been bailed to appear before Sevenoaks magistrates next Wednesday.

He was originally arrested in December and bailed after questioning. He was re-arrested after he answered bail on Wednesday.

The news comes only days after Langham won a Bafta for best comedy performance for his role as beleaguered Minister Hugh Abbot in Armando Iannucci’s acclaimed political satire.

A Christmas special and a second series  have been ordered by the BBC.

Langham appeared in the first series of Not the Nine O'Clock News, but was dropped in facvour of Griff Rhys Jones. He is also known for his roles in Paul Whitehouse's Help, which also won a Bafta this week, and People Like Us on radio and television. Langham also wrote for the Muppet Show in the Seventies.

He is married to Christine Cartwright, a musical director, and they have two children, Emily, 10, and James, eight. He has three adult sons from his previous wife.

Langham was charged after an investigation linked to Operation Ore, a round-up of 7,000 names of people whose credit card details the FBI says were used on child pornography websites.

Published: 12 May 2006