Langham faces court over child porn

Award-winning comic actor Chris Langham appeared in court today charged with a string of child porn allegations.

Ten days after the star won three Bafta awards Langham, 57, appeared before magistrates on 15 counts of making indecent images of children on his home computer.

Twice married Langham, in a black suit, turquoise shirt, purple tie and red shoes, and spoke only to confirm his name and address and that he understood the charges.

The preliminary hearing at Sevenoaks magistrates court heard that forensic work on the case, which could see Langham jailed for up to five years, was still being conducted. The father of five, who denies the charges, is expected to face trial later this year.

Langham, who starred as hapless politician Hugh Abbott in the BBC's Whitehall drama The Thick Of It, was arrested in November as part of the police investigation into child pornography, Operation Ore.

Officers raided Langham's home, a converted barn in Cranbrook, Kent, and seized computers.

He was charged on Friday after answering police bail near his home.

During the five-minute court appearance, a nervous Langham had to be reminded by chairman of the magistrates Michael Lane that he should stand.

The actor was bailed without conditions to reappear at the same court on 28 June when it is expected the full details of the charges will be revealed.