Mathew Horne: 'Critics went too far'

Mathew Horne has admitted that he was "hurt" by the backlash he received in the press earlier this year.

Horne and his Gavin & Stacey co-star James Corden faced a frosty response from critics and allegations of overexposure in the first half of 2009 as they promoted their BBC Three sketch show Horne & Corden and comedy horror movie Lesbian Vampire Killers.

Reflecting on their troubles, Horne told The Mirror: "Whatever the reasons, we were ultimately responsible for the overkill during the spring/summer period. There was some mismanagement on our part. I think the flak was inevitable but it just went a bit far and that's what upset me.

"We had a conversation with one journalist who told us he liked our sketch show and he supported us. A week later he was writing us off. It's just made me more wary about who I speak to. But I felt in a strong position because people love Gavin & Stacey and will stand by me."

Horne recently apologised for being too prominent in BBC One's Christmas Day schedule, which saw him appearing in Gavin & Stacey and Catherine Tate: Nan's Christmas Carol.