C4 is sorry for soaking Cruise

Channel 4 was forced to apologise to Tom Cruise yesterday after the actor was sprayed with water at a film premiere.

The Hollywood star was ambushed at the West End screening of his new film, an adaptation of HG Wells's War Of The Worlds.

Four men working on a new spoof entertainment show pointed a trick microphone at Cruise and sprayed him in the face with water.

Channel 4 tried to play down the prank yesterday. A spokesman said: 'The stunt was meant to be lighthearted rather than malicious.

'We apologise toMr Cruise for any offence caused.'

The four men arrested and accused of drenching Cruise, 42, were questioned and bailed until July 4.

The Channel 4 show features pranks played on stars and is due for broadcast later this year. There were reports it could be part of a new comedy series for a Friday night show called Entertainment 4.

Cruise, accompanied by fiancee Katie Holmes, 26, was answering questions in Leicester Square on Sunday when the bogus crew struck.

The shocked actor demanded three times: 'Why would you do that? 'I'm giving you an interview and you do that. You're a jerk, jerk.'

Reality TV star Sharon Osbourne was also targeted by the pranksters last month.

She dived into a restaurant and filled a bucket with water, which she threw at the cameraman. She said she thought Cruise had handled the incident in a 'dignified manner.'