'Tussle' after all-day drinking session

Alan Davies has admitted attacking a homeless man, sinking his teeth into his ear after an all-day drinking session.

Paul McElfatrick shrieked in pain as the QI comedian sunk his teeth in, drawing blood.

Davies admitted getting into a 2am ‘tussle’ outside London media hangout The Groucho Club after McElfatrick taunted him.

Davies told the Daily Mirror, which broke the story: ‘I remember this guy coming up and wanting to talk. After a while he started getting aggressive. He began calling me the C-word and other names."

‘I lost it a bit and we had something of a tussle. My friends pulled us apart. I didn't realise he was homeless.’

McElfatrick said the fight started when he called out ‘Jonathan Creek’ to Davies.

He said: ‘His face darkened and he almost spat the words, “My name's Alan. You know my name - Alan. What's my name? It's Alan”.

‘Then he suddenly went for my left ear. It was incredibly painful. I shrieked and my eyes were watering. He hung on and drew blood.’

‘I've seen Alan on TV and he seems so mild-mannered with his sheepish grin and silly jokes. So when I felt his teeth around my ear I just couldn't believe it. I was shaking with shock afterwards.

‘You'd think an educated millionaire like him would have more decency.’

The Mirror published grainy stills from CCTV footage showing the attack, which came on the day Davies delivered the eulogy at the funeral of Jonathan Creek producer Verity Lambert.

He said: ‘I was very upset and emotional. I had a lot to drink over many hours. Far too much really and a lot more than normal but it was an upsetting day.

‘I guess this isn't going to look good, is it? What a nightmare. I'm really not normally an aggressive guy, honest.’

Published: 11 Dec 2007