The Jamie I know is an incredibly funny guy - far more intelligent than people realise

Joely Richardson

"We all make mistakes," she told Company magazine. "But, at the same time, if you have a job in the public eye, it carries a responsibility with it."

Asked how she found out about the incident, she said: "He told me. The first I knew was not opening the Sunday newspaper."

Richardson, 37, said that despite the lurid revelations she was still "really fond" of Theakston.

"Jamie's a good friend of mine. The Jamie I know is an incredibly funny guy - far more intelligent than people realise," she said.

Theakston, who used to present the children's show Live and Kicking on the BBC, is currently appearing in the West End hit Art.

Theakston appears in West End hit Art

He tried unsuccessfully in a High Court bid to prevent the Sunday People from publishing the story of his brothel visit.

Theakston apologised to his friends and family for the embarrassing revelations.

He said: "I know it was foolish for me to get into this situation in the first place but I'm not married. I'm a single guy, I haven't broken the law."