David Jason sorry for Pakistani radio joke

David Jason has apologised for cracking a joke about Pakistanis on a live radio show.

Jason, 69, made the gaffe while appearing as a phone-in guest during the Christian O'Connell Breakfast Show on Absolute Radio.

During the Who's Calling Christian feature - in which celebrities call in for a chance to win £20,000 for charity - O'Connell asked Jason for a question for the next guest.

The Only Fools and Horses star replied: "What do you call a Pakistani cloakroom attendant? Me hat, me coat."

There was a stunned silence before Jason hastily added a question about Ronnie Barker's early career.

The joke was edited out of the show's podcast on the station's website as race groups condemned it.

Mohammed Shafiq, of the Ramadhan Foundation, said: "As a well known and well-loved actor David Jason needs to be careful about what he says."

Jason's spokeswoman said today: "He is really sorry and distressed that the joke upset people."