Co-star "knew nothing of Langham 'research'"

Paul Whitehouse has told a court he knew nothing about Chris Langham using child pornography to research a series they co-wrote.

Langham, from Kent, is standing trial for 15 counts of making an indecent photograph of a child between September and November 2005, which he denies. He also denies 10 counts of indecent assault and two counts of a serious sexual offence on a girl under 18 between 1996 and 2000.

The Thick of It star's defence counsel previously said he downloaded child pornography images as research while writing and acting in Help.

Whitehouse also wrote and starred in the series. He played various patients seen by Langham as a psychiatrist. On Tuesday, Whitehouse told Maidstone Crown Court he was unaware of any such research.

Prosecutor Richard Barraclough QC also asked the Fast Show star if there was any discussion of explicit sex with young girls in relation to the comedy. He replied: "Absolutely not."

Mr Barraclough then asked Whitehouse if he researched characters. "None whatsoever," he replied. "I don’t think we felt the need to, or I didn’t, anyway."

David Whitehouse QC, counsel for Langham, asked Whitehouse if he was "furious" at being "dragged into this sordid affair". The comedian replied: "I wasn’t very happy."

On Monday the jury heard highly indecent films of girls as young as seven were found on Langham's computers. Eleven films were on equipment seized in a raid at his home in November 2005.

During the trial, which continues, a woman has accused Langham of systematically abusing her and admitting to her he looks at child pornography. His defence has accused her of being a "fantasist".