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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| William Shatner sorry for Ilfracombe prostitution joke | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Star Trek actor William Shatner has apologised to a Devon town for saying it was "laced with prostitution". | Star Trek actor William Shatner has apologised to a Devon town for saying it was "laced with prostitution". |
| Shatner, 81, made the comments on an edition of the BBC show Have I Got News for You. | Shatner, 81, made the comments on an edition of the BBC show Have I Got News for You. |
| Former Mayor of Ilfracombe Paul Crabb invited Shatner to the seaside town to show him "there is no prostitution in Ilfracombe". | Former Mayor of Ilfracombe Paul Crabb invited Shatner to the seaside town to show him "there is no prostitution in Ilfracombe". |
| Shatner replied: "My apologies for having singled out Ilfracombe as a potential haven for prostitution." | Shatner replied: "My apologies for having singled out Ilfracombe as a potential haven for prostitution." |
| 'Deeply sexual' | 'Deeply sexual' |
| He made his comments in May as panellists discussed the town as a venue in the Olympic torch relay. | He made his comments in May as panellists discussed the town as a venue in the Olympic torch relay. |
| When he mispronounced the town's name, guest panellist Charlie Brooker said he had made it sound "deeply sexual" and Shatner replied: "The place is laced with prostitution." | When he mispronounced the town's name, guest panellist Charlie Brooker said he had made it sound "deeply sexual" and Shatner replied: "The place is laced with prostitution." |
| Builder Mr Crabb, 49, emailed Shatner's agents: "As Captain James T Kirk, Mr Shatner has been to places where no man has gone before, however, the episode of Have I Got News For You clearly shows he has never been to Ilfracombe. | Builder Mr Crabb, 49, emailed Shatner's agents: "As Captain James T Kirk, Mr Shatner has been to places where no man has gone before, however, the episode of Have I Got News For You clearly shows he has never been to Ilfracombe. |
| "If he came, we could show him that there is no prostitution in Ilfracombe and that it is a lovely coastal town with spectacular scenery and a close community." | "If he came, we could show him that there is no prostitution in Ilfracombe and that it is a lovely coastal town with spectacular scenery and a close community." |
| In an email signed "Bill", Shatner replied that prostitution "commonly means sex for something of value". | In an email signed "Bill", Shatner replied that prostitution "commonly means sex for something of value". |
| He added: "I would be hard pressed to believe that sex was not being had in Ilfracombe for something of value, perhaps a lengthy marriage, children or a valuable career. | He added: "I would be hard pressed to believe that sex was not being had in Ilfracombe for something of value, perhaps a lengthy marriage, children or a valuable career. |
| "In any event, my apologies for having singled out Ilfracombe as a potential haven for prostitution. With you overseeing, I am sure that will not happen." | "In any event, my apologies for having singled out Ilfracombe as a potential haven for prostitution. With you overseeing, I am sure that will not happen." |
| Mr Crabb said: "We are a fairly good natured bunch down here. | Mr Crabb said: "We are a fairly good natured bunch down here. |
| "I'm sure the vast majority of people took it as tongue in cheek humour, but there were some who were upset. | "I'm sure the vast majority of people took it as tongue in cheek humour, but there were some who were upset. |
| "Maybe he has gone some way to assuage their concerns." | "Maybe he has gone some way to assuage their concerns." |