Chris Langham, the star of political comedy The Thick of It and a convicted paedophile, has died at the age of 77. The actor, whose career ended when he was jailed for child sex offences in 2006, died almost three months ago.
Career and conviction
Langham first found fame in the comedy sketch show Not The Nine O'Clock News before making his name in the BBC satire The Thick of It. He was arrested in 2006 just days after winning a BAFTA for his role as bumbling Labour minister Hugh Abbot in the series.
He was charged with 15 counts of downloading indecent images, including clips that showed the rape of a teenager and the sexual abuse of an eight-year-old. He was sentenced to ten months in Kent's Elmley Prison but served just three months in 2007.
Defence and family
The comic maintained he downloaded child pornography as part of research for a comedy series he was writing. 'It wasn’t circumstances. I’m not blaming it on anything or anybody,' he said later.
His theatre director wife Chrissie stood by him throughout his sentencing.
