Comedian Jack Whitehall 'regrets lewd Queen joke'

Whitehall has worked with his father Michael on a number of TV shows

Comedian Jack Whitehall has said he regrets making a crass joke about the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.

Appearing on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs he recalled his remark about a bladder infection on Channel 4's Big Fat Quiz Of The Year in 2012.

Whitehall said he upset his family and is now a "lot more careful" about what he says and "self-censor[s] more".

He said: "I have a relatively thick skin but I never wanted to drag them into it".

He said that after he made the joke, in a pre-recorded episode of the quiz show, he was on the front of newspapers "every day for a week".

"That was not nice, because it was something I'd said that caused them upset and that was the bit that hurt the most," he added.

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The 29-year-old told presenter Kirsty Young that in the early stages of his career he did not give his family the "best version" of himself.

Whitehall's relationship with his father, Michael, has been highlighted by joint ventures in the TV shows Backchat and Travels With My Father.

But he insists the more tender moments on-screen can never really be planned.

"We don't really talk about our emotions as a family, we're not necessarily very good at that, but it's amazing."

Family sacrifice

Whitehall admitted the nature of his work meant spending time with relatives was sometimes sacrificed.

"I got very bad at it. I'd come to life when on a show and I'd be upbeat and fun, and when I was with [my family], I was kind of twitchy and on edge and anxious about work.

"And then I took a conscious effort, I was like, I need to spend more time with them and be careful that I never do that and never take them for advantage, because I'm so close to my family, and they're so supportive."

He told the programme it upset him when people would suggest his success was down to his father's career as a celebrity agent.

"To become a stand-up comedian, the fact that my dad used to look after Christopher Biggins doesn't necessarily help you get stage time.

"That's the bit that needles me, and now I've said it people will needle with me more!"

Desert Island Discs is on BBC Radio 4 at 11.15 GMT on Sunday, or listen later on iPlayer