Comic Seized As DVD Theft Stunt Goes Wrong

A comedian staging a fake theft ended up with more than he bargained for when he was caught by a police community support officer.

The officer thought a crime was in progress when TV star Simon Brodkin pretended to steal his own DVD.

Brodkin was in character as one of his creations - South London tearaway Lee Nelson - and was doing a signing at HMV on London's Oxford Street.

He staged a stunt in which he "stole" one of his own DVDs, after which he was chased around the store by an actor dressed up as a police officer.

They ended up running outside, where they were spotted by the real officer who detained Brodkin.

A spokesman for the comedian said: "Somehow they ended up out on the pavement, where a real police community support officer got involved, thinking it was a theft taking place.

"Shoppers were looking on and buses were stopping, it was all very dramatic.

"The community support officer brought him back into the store where it was explained that it hadn't been a real theft taking place."

Brodkin, a former doctor who gave up his medical career to pursue work as a stand-up, stars in his own BBC Three show, Lee Nelson's Well Good Show.

The programme sees Brodkin, in character as happy-go-lucky chav Nelson throughout, hosting a studio show before an audience.

He has also written for and appeared with comedians Al Murray and Jason Manford.