Blessed storms out of dinner in a flash

Brian Blessed stormed out of a black-tie dinner at the Savoy after allegedly grabbing a guest by the throat when he called the 1980 film Flash Gordon, in which Blessed starred, "crap".

The 74-year-old was booked as an after-dinner speaker and his £6,500 fee will be refunded. Guests said he shouted "I'm not standing for this" and left.

"All I said was I did not rate Flash Gordon, that I thought it was crap. I certainly did not call him any names," the man told the Daily Mail.