David Jason apologises for 'racist' radio joke

Sir David Jason has been forced to apologise after making an allegedly racist joke on a live radio broadcast.

Appearing on Absolute Radio's Christian O'Connell Breakfast Show yesterday, the veteran actor was asked to leave a question for the next guest, as part of the programme's 'Who's Calling Christian?' feature.

The 69-year-old responded by saying: "What do you call a Pakistani cloakroom attendant? Me hat, me coat."

His quip was reportedly followed by silence in the studio, before O'Connell swiftly changed the subject. No apology was issued while the show was on-air, but the joke was deleted from a later podcast.

A spokesperson for Jason has since apologised, saying: "He is really sorry and distressed that the joke upset people. He thought it was nothing more than a light hearted joke and doesn't see it as racist but is naturally very, very sorry that people did."

Speaking to The Sun, a spokesperson from Absolute Radio said: "The comments made by David Jason were unacceptable and Christian O’Connell distanced himself from them live on-air by swiftly saying, 'no more jokes like that'.

"We...have received no complaints about these comments...and Christian will issue an on-air apology in tomorrow’s breakfast show."