TV firm denies robot actor claims

Isaac Blake is representing himself at the hearing

A children's television production company has said an actor, who is claiming unfair dismissal, made inappropriate comments to staff.

Warwickshire-based Ragdoll Productions, which produces In The Night Garden, said Isaac Blake, 28, made comments which were not acceptable.

Mr Blake, from Cardiff, played one of the Tombliboos in the BBC show.

He says he was unfairly dismissed after complaining about a faulty suit. The company denies the allegations.

Earlier, Mr Blake told an employment tribunal in Birmingham he had been abused and injured when the suit caused him to fall over.

He told how he had been signed off work by doctors with injuries and was then sacked by the company.

Mr Blake played one of the Tombliboos in the series

He also said a colleague called him a "bitch" and a "faggot", but was ignored when he complained.

On behalf of Ragdoll, Marcus Difelice read out statements from production staff alleging Mr Blake had made inappropriate comments.

Actress Elisa Laghi, 31, who worked alongside Mr Blake in 2005 and 2006 admitted she had called Mr Blake a bitch during an argument and said she had used the word "faggot" on one occasion, but in jest.

"I'm bisexual myself so I don't have a problem with people being gay," she said.

'Over-acting'

Andrew Davenport, the show's producer, said Ragdoll had taken Mr Blake's complaints about his costume seriously.

He said Mr Blake would make a complaint and the company would work to fix the problem.

"I don't accept the suit was faulty," he said.

He also disputed Mr Blake's account of an incident when he was injured working on the show.

Mr Blake said he fell in November 2005 after a camera in his suit failed, meaning he could not see.

Mr Davenport said it was "over-acting" which caused the fall.

He said he was aware of "banter" between the staff but was not aware of any abuse.

"I don't think Elisa was using the term (faggot) to Isaac because he is gay," he said.

"English isn't her first language and she has said to me in the past she wasn't aware of the bad connotations.

"She thought it meant 'gay'."

The tribunal continues on Wednesday.