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Sex offender Langham works in secret on Dury West End show
Amar Singh and Anna Davis9 Jan 2009
DISGRACED comedian Chris Langham has been secretly asked to work on a West End musical which has led to its lead actor being sacked, the Standard can reveal.
The 59-year-old veteran writer, who spent 10 months in jail for downloading child pornography, has penned a new version of the play Hit Me! The Life And Rhymes Of Ian Dury, which held its first preview performance at the Leicester Square Theatre last night.
But the comic actor's changes to the script has led to a fall-out with the play's star, Jud Charlton, who producers sacked last week after he refused to work with the sex offender.
Charlton, 40, told the Standard: "I was very unhappy with the script that Chris Langham wrote. I had an argument with him, and he questioned my reputation, which I thought was completely hypocritical.
"It was mindblowing that he couldn't see the irony given his past. I made it clear that I didn't want to work with him and his new script, which I thought was disrespectful to Ian Dury, and for that I was sacked."
The show, which tells the story of the ground-breaking Blockheads singer who died of cancer in 2000, transferred to the Leicester Square Theatre this week after a successful run at the Courtyard Theatre in Shoreditch following rave reviews at the Edinburgh festival.
Producer Irving Rappaport brought in Langham, who wrote and starred in the BBC comedy The Thick Of It, last month to work with the show's original writer and director Jeff Merrifield ahead of the West End run. Several key people associated are said to have objected to the move.
Charlton, whose performance earned him a best actor nomination in The Stage awards last year and a string of positive reviews, added: "After I said that I wouldn't work with Chris, straight away Jeff Merrifield and Irving Rappaport talked about recasting the part.
"I spent Christmas trying to get the show back to what it was, but couldn't work with Chris Langham over what he had written. It simply didn't work and he added all these crude jokes. What was a celebration of Ian Dury and the Blockheads has turned into a character assassination."
Langham did not comment as he slipped out of the theatre last night after the audience had left.
His close friend, playwright Merrifield, defended the actor saying many people on the show had known Langham for years and are standing by him. He added that Langham had not been paid for helping with the show. On Wednesday, the play's West End debut was called off after a power cut, leaving nearly 400 people being offered refunds or new tickets. Paul Roffey, director of leading child protection agency Ray Wyre Associates, said producers should make Langham's involvement public.
He said: "Why have the producers been so secretive about Chris Langham's involvement? The fact remains that he's been convicted of crimes to warrant a custodial sentence.
"He is required to state his place of employment on the sex offenders register and if his work on this play means he will be spending time at this public place then he has to declare it."
Producer Irving Rappaport said in a statement: "The play is written by Jeff Merrifield and contains elements from various people including The Blockheads, Ian Dury's family, the producers and various members of the creative team.
"Due to contractual difficulties, which include artistic differences, the actor was replaced by Adrian Schiller at very short notice. On the opening night he received a standing ovation from a full house of Ian Dury fans including John Turnbull, his friend and original Blockhead member.
"We are extremely grateful to Jud Charlton for his pre-West End portrayal of Ian Dury and would like to congratulate Adrian Schiller on taking over the part.
"Chris Langham is one of the many friends and writers who have contributed over a long period of time in preparation for the West End run"
A registered sex offender, Langham was cleared of abusing a 14- year-old girl, but was jailed for downloading child porn in 2007.
Reader views (11)
The man has served his sentence and has a right to get on with his life. If the production had involved children, his involvement could perhaps be questioned.
- Lucy, Watford, 04/02/2009 23:56
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I do not understand what Chris Langham is supposed to have done wrong - if he was working on a show involving children I could maybe understand that some may have concerns but, this is an obviously adult production! He has served his time and has a right to carry on with his life without being hounded for continuing in the career that he was always so good at. He is credited in the programme and was watching the performance last night - where's the secrecy in that?
Jud Charlton is obviously bitter at being replaced and is hitting out but, this is a low blow and not becoming of a fellow professional. Adrian Schiller is amazing in the role, maybe Mr Charlton is suffering from sour grapes!
- Lindah, ACTON, WEST LONDON, 09/01/2009 19:43
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If it was a secret, why is Chris Langham acknowledged in the programme?
- David, London, 09/01/2009 17:46
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The guy has served his sentence, and any further hounding of him demeans those who probably have no grasp of the facts of the case anyway, but just want to follow the mob-mentality of revenge. Would they prefer Langham has to spend the rest of his life in hiding and on benefits, or be permitted to re-habilitate himself and make a contribution to society?
- Jon Kent, Hertford. UK, 09/01/2009 17:38
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I saw Jud Charlton playing Ian Dury during the off West End run at the Courtyard theatre and he was perfect for the role. I can't imagine the play without him.
- Tam, London, 09/01/2009 15:51
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He may have served his sentence but the children abused in the child pornography he was watching will suffer from that abuse for the rest of their lives. I don't believe in vigilantes or that he should be punished for the rest of his life but I do believe people should have the right to choose whether or not they want to work with him!
- Kathy, london, 09/01/2009 13:58
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He has paid his debt to society, as the expression has it. Vindictive witch hunts sent Oscar Wilde to an early death and who knows what else he could have written, had he not been imprisoned and forced into exile? Not that Langham is Oscar Wilde but he has amused many a telespectator in the past.
- Clarssa, Vienna, Austria, 09/01/2009 13:42
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The victims post traumatic stress disorder is not .......spent. He is on the register through no fault but his own.
- Nicky, London, 09/01/2009 12:55
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Langham was aquitted of the more serious crime he was accused of but was then hung out to dry on an unrelated offence, questionably joined up to the other for impact. His sentence was not that he should be barred from earning a living or doing what he is good at, or helping a friend. Professional publicity-greedy holier-than-thous should get off his back.
- Colin, London UK, 09/01/2009 12:35
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absoloutely right teddy., there is no point in putting people through the justice system if once they have paid their dues other people are allowed to continue to judge them on the spent case. jud charlton had no right to make reference to langham's past when talking about the play.
- Nu, london uk, 09/01/2009 12:21
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His sentence is spent - leave him alone.
- Teddy, Islington, London, 09/01/2009 10:50
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