[MarkWaldorf]

Alan Carr has apologised for dedicating his British Comedy Award to the mother of Shannon Matthews.

The 32-year-old picked up the Best Comedy Entertainment Personality gong at Saturday's event, then told journalists backstage that Karen Matthews would be a "dream guest" on his Celebrity Ding Dong.

Carr wrote on his website: "Just a quick note to apologise to all the people who were offended by me 'dedicating' my award to Karen Matthews. For those of you who have enjoyed my comedy and seen my act over the last seven years you all would have got used to my tongue in cheek style and near the knuckle observations.

"Just to put the record straight I was being ironic, these aren't my real sentiments obviously."

Matthews, 33, was convicted last week of conspiring with Michael Donovan, 40, to kidnap her nine-year-old daughter in an attempt to claim a £50,000 reward from a national newspaper.

After receiving his gong, Carr said he wanted his show to feature "rough women", not "fashionistas", and continued by saying: "I suppose it is difficult to find rough women. I suppose Shannon Matthews's mum was busy. She'd be my dream guest.

"I think she's a gay icon. People like a bit of rough, don't they? I must be obsessed actually if you look at my Google searches. So I should dedicate this award to her."

Source: DS