Carr Apologises for 'Insensitive' Matthews Remarks

Comedian Alan Carr has apologised for dedicating an award to Karen Matthews, who last week was found guilty of kidnapping her daughter Shannon.

Carr, at Saturday night's British Comedy Awards, called Matthews a "gay icon", adding: "People like a bit of rough don't they?"

Junior Justice Minister Shahid Malik condemned him as "sick and insensitive".

The comedian later said: "I realise what I said was insensitive and I am very sorry for any offence caused."

Mr Malik, who is also MP for Matthews' constituency of Dewsbury, said: "I think Alan Carr can be funny on occasion but I think last night he really let himself down.

"The timing couldn't be worse. I think most people e think it to be both sick and insensitive and people will be disgusted with him at a time when many people are looking very closely at the comic/comedian profession anyway."

He added: "This isn't a helpful contribution either to the sad case of Shannon Matthews, where we've only just got a conviction, and Michael Donovan and Karen Matthews haven't even been sentenced yet."

Last week, Matthews and Donovan were convicted of the kidnap of her nine-year-old daughter Shannon, who was imprisoned and drugged for 24 days in a plan to claim £50,000 reward money.

At the comedy awards, Carr told reporters backstage he originally planned his Celebrity Ding Dong sketch to feature Rough Woman not Fashionistas.

He said: "It didn't work out because they couldn't cast it. I suppose it is a bit difficult to find rough women. I suppose Shannon Matthew's mum was busy.

"Oh yeah, she would be my dream guest. I think she's a gay icon. People like a bit of rough don't they?"

Carr added: "I must be obsessed with her actually if you look at my Google searches. So I should dedicate this award to her."

(JM)