Theakston: I'm sorry for brothel romp

Clean-cut TV presenter Jamie Theakston was forced to apologise to his family and friends yesterday after being caught on camera in a sex romp with three vice girls.

The former children's show host admitted taking part in lewd acts during a three-hour visit to a 'bondage dungeon' at a Mayfair brothel.

His confession came after he failed to get an injunction to stop a Sunday newspaper revealing the incident, which took place after his well-publicised split from Joely Richardson, the actress he described as 'the love of his life'.

He was reported to have been secretly photographed with several prostitutes, to have had sex with the brothel's madam and then tried to use his celebrity status to avoid paying.

The 31-year-old contacted his lawyer after receiving text messages on his mobile phone demanding money for the photos.

Theakston said last night: "This is the first time this has happened. It was one night before Christmas that went too far. As someone who values their privacy, it is extremely embarrassing and I would like to apologise to my close friends and family."

Theakston, who earns a seven-figure salary, said he was taken by a mini-cab driver to the club after leaving a party at 4am.

He added: "I thought 'Why not? It's Christmas'. I must have been so drunk I told him to take me there."

He described how a girl began to do a striptease dance for him, adding: "She asked me to go into a private room, which I did, and she performed a sex act on me. The events are slightly blurred by the amount I'd had to drink but, during the sex act, some girls burst into the room with a camera and took a photograph."

The presenter said he then paid the girl £40 and left the club.

Theakston, who has dated a string of showbusiness stars including Kylie Minogue, Natalie-Appleton and Tamzin Outhwaite, said: "I know it was foolish for me to get into this situation in the first place but I'm not married, I'm a single guy, I haven't broken the law. You just have to stand up to these people."

Theakston, who attracted an army of young fans when he hosted Live And Kicking, now has a Saturday morning Radio 1 slot and hosts Top Of The Pops.

A Radio 1 spokesman said: "This is a personal matter for Jamie. He remains a vital part of our Saturday line-up."