Tarrant jokes about curry arrest

Chris Tarrant said the assault claims are "utter nonsense"

Chris Tarrant laughed off his recent arrest when he recorded his appearance as the guest presenter on the BBC One show Have I Got News for You.

The 60-year-old broadcaster was arrested on Sunday after allegedly throwing cutlery at a fellow diner at a restaurant in Nottingham.

He jokingly threatened panellists with "a sharpened poisoned tipped poppadom".

Mr Tarrant, who was released on police bail, also joked that no one wanted to go for a curry with him afterwards.

"We really want to get through this quickly so we can all go for a curry," he said.

"None of them want to come with me - I don't know why," he added.

Referring to guest and Liberal Democrat politician Lembit Opik - whose partner is Cheeky Girls singer Gabriela Irimia - he said: "He wants to stop the press prying into his private life? Take my advice - pop out for a quiet curry. It works like a treat."

Speaking on Monday, Mr Tarrant's spokesman said he had jokingly dropped cutlery onto the table of a couple with whom he had been chatting.

Mr Tarrant called it a "mythical alleged assault".

"There was no aggro, there was no temper, there was no problem," he added. Mr Tarrant must return to see police in June.