Matt Lucas has apologised to gay youngsters targeted for abuse as a result of his Little Britain character Daffyd Thomas.
The comic played the outrageously camp Welshman – catchphrase “I’m the only gay in the village” – from 2003 to 2005.
Looking back at the hit BBC show, in which he and co-star David Walliams also played characters of different races, he admitted that while it passed guidelines for broadcast he would do things differently now.
Matt, 45, said: “I remember thinking there was a greedyness to Little Britain and we just wanted to show off as many characters as possible so we played black, white, straight, gay, male, female, tall, short, whatever.
“I am much more sympatico with contemporary approach so I would not play characters of other races now.
“I would say if anyone is listening and is offended, I would happily discuss anything, individual cases.
“I have had people who had ‘You are the only gay in the village’ said to them and to us it was meant to be a celebration.
"But people were labelled ‘the only gay in the village’ at school.
"It was meant as entertainment, not to make young gay people sad.”
Speaking on the Richard Herring RHLSTP podcast, Matt also revealed he is writing a project for the BBC that could have a sci-fi feel similar to Doctor Who.
