Comic Watson defends Magners adverts

Comedian Mark Watson has defended his appearance in a series of Magners cider adverts, claiming that he needed the money to support his family.

The stand-up comic was accused of "selling out" by journalist David Jesudason, who claimed that Watson had "stuck two fingers up to his loyal fans". Jesudason also argued that Watson clearly did not care about the "ills of the world".

Watson responded to the criticism in an article on comedy website Chortle, insisting that the adverts have granted him artistic freedom in the long-term.

"I like to think I've behaved with reasonable integrity in my career. I've resisted numerous offers to make my 24-hour shows profitable, for example, in the hope of preserving the experience for the people who come to see it," he wrote.

"At the Fringe just gone, I did a series of non-profit lectures on climate change. I've turned down appearances on TV shows I didn't like or approve of."

He added: "Most pertinently to the current debate, I spent the best part of the last two years writing a novel which my publishers rejected as being too 'uncommercial'. Coming as it did a week after this enormous professional setback, my decision to support my family by doing an ad would, I think, be intelligible to most people, if not to Mr Jesuadson.

"I accepted the Magners job because the money has allowed me the freedom to take on unpaid or hardly-paid projects which I might otherwise have had to abandon."

Watson and fellow comic Emily Watson-Howes are currently expecting their first child.