Child porn shame actor Chris Langham on stage again 11 months after jail release

Disgraced actor Chris Langham has made his first stage appearance nearly 11 months year after being released from jail, it emerged today.

The Bafta-winning comedian, who served three months in prison for possessing child porn, made a surprise performance on Friday.

Appearing without fanfare the Thick Of It star appeared in a tribute to Ken Campbell, the actor-director who died suddenly in August.

The opening sketch of the Ken Campbell Halloween Memorial Caper, shown at London?s Mission Room theatre, saw Langham, 59, in casual jumper and jacket - resembling a passing schoolteacher - announcing: ?I forget everything I?ve said as soon as I?ve said it.?

It might have been acting, but he no doubt really wishes he could forget the court case and subsequent imprisonment that have tarnished his once well-respected name.

Langham, who denied all charges, was released from jail in December last year.

He was found guilty of making indecent photographs of a child on September 14, despite claiming he viewed the images because he was researching a new TV drama and had been abused as a child.

The married father-of-five was cleared of a further charge of having sex with an underage girl.

But following a court appeal his legal team successfully argued that his ten-month sentence had been 'very tough' and he was released after serving three months in Elmley Prison in Kent.

Today Langham, who lives with his wife Christine Cartwright in Golford, near Cranbrook, Kent, received cautious reviews.

He was praised for his nervous, deadpan humour that had become his trademark.

But questions remained about whether he would be able to revive his carreer.

Bruce Dessau, of London?s Evening Standard, wrote: ?The performance was a reminder that Langham?s actions robbed comedy of one of its finest exponents.

?This was not a comeback, merely a chance to honour a close colleague publicly. The skill clearly remains, but stardom may be gone forever.?

And, conceding it was possible to laugh again at Langham, he added: ?But there will always be something uncomfortable about watching this talented, troubled performer.?

During the performance of gags inspired by Langham?s co-writer Mr Campbell, the disgraced performer appeared twice more after opening the play.

First playing a hapless spy and then, in the strongest skit, taking the lead opposite a dress-wearing Josh Darcy as a man who could not stop acting.

Summing up the evening, Dessau said of Campbell: ?The late renaissance man was clearly someone who loved surprises.?

He added: ?The only thing that could have been more surprising than Langham?s performance would have been if Campbell had turned up himself.?

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