Jonathan Creek star Davies bites tramp's ear

Personally, I was upset by the death of Verity Lambert and I do like Alan Davies quite a bit ... however, how drunk do you have to be for this to happen ???


By Richard Edwards
Last Updated: 2:41am GMT 12/12/2007

He is known as a genial comedian who in his many television appearances is often teased for being a vegetarian.

Alan Davies starred alongside Caroline Quentin in the BBC series Jonathan Creek
But when Alan Davies was confronted with an allegedly "aggressive" homeless person after a night out in London, his mild-mannered persona was lost in a moment of Mike Tyson-like madness.

CCTV footage emerged has emerged showing Davies biting the ear of a man in an attack outside a nightclub, sinking his teeth into him for up to 13 seconds and drawing blood before two women and a man pulled him away.

The victim claimed that he was set upon after he called the actor by the name of his most famous character, Jonathan Creek.

Mr McElfatrick, 40, a former shop worker who is trying to get a hostel place, told how the 2am attack happened last week outside the Groucho Club in London's West End.

He said: "His face darkened and he almost spat the words, 'My name's Alan. You know my name - Alan. What's my name? It's Alan'.

"Then he suddenly went for my left ear. It was incredibly painful. I shrieked and my eyes were watering. He hung on and drew blood."

After admitting to a "tussle", Davies, 41, said: "I'm really not normally an aggressive guy, honest."

He added: "I guess this isn't going to look good, is it? The last thing I want is another negative story about 'that obnoxious Jonathan Creek star'. What's this going to say?"

advertisementTold that the tabloid headlines would read something like 'Jonathan Creek bites tramp's ear' he said: "Oh God. I don't mean to laugh but that's funny isn't it? Oh God, what a nightmare."

Davies, 41, a panellist on the BBC's QI show, said he was emotional after giving the eulogy at the funeral of his friend, Jonathan Creek producer Verity Lambert.

"I was very upset and emotional," he told the Daily Mirror. "I had a lot to drink over many hours. Far too much really and a lot more than normal but it was an upsetting day."

Davies claimed the homeless man became aggressive after approaching him, and had abused him with obscenities.

The curly-haired actor said he did not realise the man was homeless and he texted his friend the next morning to find out what happened.

On Davies' official website, two people responded and their opinion was divided.

A woman who identified herself as Heleen addressed a message to "Alan". It said: "Don't worry about it, it happens to the best of them, and the people that matter to you won't take notice... Love, a Belgian fan."

However, Tara Oliver in France was less forgiving. She wrote: "Don't be so sure that no-one will take notice of it. I think it is absolutely despicable. There are no excuses. If grief made us all violent we'd live in anarchy.

"How can this man of obvious good fortune, be so nasty to someone who has nothing.

"Do something to try to make up for your behaviour Mr Davies, something that resonates, open your eyes up to the world outside of luvvydom, away from privilege and good fortune and do something positive."

Mr Davies' agent said he had nothing more to add.