Crowe also starred in Gladiator

The New Zealand-born star rang Mr Gerrie on Saturday to apologise, saying he had been "overbearing" and used "strong language".

He also spoke to Mr Gerrie's 12-year-old son for around 15 minutes after he was told the boy had been the subject of unwanted media attention at his home.

The decision to cut the poem from the broadcast was taken in conjunction with the BBC because of copyright issues and because time was running out, a spokesman for Initial Productions said.

"Malcolm got a call from Russell Crowe on Saturday making the apology," said the spokesman.

"He said he felt he had been overbearing and used language that had been very strong."

Turnaround

The news is a U-turn for Crowe, who last week told a US TV show that he had nothing to apologise for.

He told Entertainment Tonight: "If you know anything about me you know I am going to stand up for myself if I believe I've been wronged."

Speaking of Mr Gerrie, the actor said: "He's not battered, he's not bruised and he's not bloodied. His ears will be ringing though.

"I have no regrets about what I said to him."

But he added: "What I said to him may have been a little bit more passionate than now, in the cold light of day, I would have liked it to have been."

Crowe is also nominated for a best actor Oscar for A Beautiful Mind - an award he won last year, for his starring role in Gladiator.