ONE of television’s leading comedy writers has told how he saw an actor commit a shocking assault during filming.
Derren Litten, 50, said the “well-known” star punched a crew member during a row.
Bosses took no further action after the actor, who Derren did not name, apologised.
The creator and writer of Benidorm and co-writer of The Catherine Tate Show said: “We once saw an actor punch a member of crew. Their response? ‘What r u going to do? Sack me?’”
Derren said: “I was up for rewriting everything and getting rid of said person but it was decided, between several execs (and the person who was punched) that an apology was OK.”
The incident has echoes of when Jeremy Clarkson, 61, punched a Top Gear producer. It led to his departure from the BBC car show.
Derren added he has seen lots of bizarre and inappropriate behaviour over 27 years. He warned: “This industry is insane. The television/theatre industry is kind of a law unto itself.
(Image: ITV Picture Publicity)
I don’t know any other jobs you can turn up drunk, refuse to do part or all of the day’s work or indeed get your c**k out, and not get fired.”
John Barrowman has faced a backlash since being accused of exposing himself on the set of Doctor Who.
He insisted his behaviour was tomfoolery and only meant in jest. But Derren said: “I keep hearing things like, ‘He would never do it to offend’. Really? When was the last time you got your c**k out at work?”
(Image: Getty Images)
Speaking to Daily Star last month Celebrity Gogglebox star Denise Van Outen defended John’s antics.
Denise said: “I’ve worked very closely with John several times. We were judges on the Andrew Lloyd Webber show together.
“John has a very humorous and fun personality. Anything that he has ever done has always been in jest and I have never been offended by anything he has ever done.
“I know people do joke about the fact he has exposed himself in the past but it has always been done in a fun, humorous way.
“I suppose I don’t know if anyone has been offended by it but I haven’t been offended by it.
“I like John and I don’t think… I feel like fingers are being pointed now that is a bit unnecessary for him.
“He has never done anything offensive to me. I have seen all of him though but I wasn’t offended by his manhood.”
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
