Row over disgraced star's involvement in musical

A row broke out today over disgraced Chris Langham's involvement in a West End musical, as the producer insisted there was nothing "secretive" about it.

The former Thick of It star has been giving advice on the musical Hit Me! The Life And Rhymes Of Ian Dury, which is running in London's Leicester Square after previously showing in Edinburgh.

Bafta award-winner Langham was sent to prison for 10 months in September 2007 after being found guilty of 15 counts of downloading child pornography.

The Evening Standard today quoted the former star of the play Jud Charlton, who said he refused to work with Langham and was sacked.

He told the newspaper: "I had an argument with him, and he questioned my reputation, which I thought was completely hypocritical."

He also said he thought a revised version of the script was "disrespectful to Ian Dury".

But the show's producer Irving Rappaport denied the claims, and also added that Langham's contribution to the play had been "minimal".

Rappaport said of Charlton: "... far from being fired, he was not engaged to work on the Leicester Square run of Hit Me! The Life and Rhymes of Ian Dury because he refused to co-operate under the direction of writer and director Jeff Merrifield and became impossible to work with.

"He was only hired for the Edinburgh Festival and the three week run of the show before it transferred to the West End."

He continued: "Chris Langham's contribution was minimal.

"He merely sat in on a few of rehearsals and has given help and advice on the play's transfer to a larger theatre.

"This was in his capacity as a friend of the producer, cast and director.

"There is nothing secretive about this because such was his involvement; there has been nothing to say."

Langham denied he had any sexual interest in children but previously admitted looking at the images was "completely wrong".

He was also previously ordered to remain on the sex offenders' register for 10 years and be subject to a five-year sexual offenders' prevention order.

Rappaport said it should be made clear that the play was solely written by Merrifield and that it is supported by Dury's family and friends.

He said: "The play is an act of love towards Ian Dury and so far during its Leicester Square run has received standing ovations from sell out audiences of Dury fans."