Former EastEnder Wendy Richard has apologised for offensive comments she made about Big Brother's Kat.

The 65-year-old actress - who appeared as a guest on offshoot talk show Big Brother's Little Brother - sparked a 'racism' row with a remark she made about Thai-born housemate Kathreya Kasisopa.

Wendy told LBC radio on Wednesday: "I'm so upset I'm so close to tears. I feel ill.

"I did not want to get BBLB in trouble. What I was trying to convey is that Kat did not betray her thoughts about what was going on in the house all of the time.

"I have just been told by an American friend that in the US, 'Oriental' is considered offensive and I did not know that. I did not mean to cause offence to anyone."

Wendy said on BBLB on Monday night: "What is it they say about these inscrutable Chinese? And she is Thai, but it is all Oriental isn't it? Well it is to me anyway."

Presenter George Lamb interrupted: "I don't think that is unique to Asian people, more to Kat."

Ofcom said it had received a number of complaints about the comments.

Wendy added to the radio station: "It's a long time since I was a school but I was thinking of those Arthur Conan Doyle books with Sherlock Holmes when it was the inscrutable Chinese.

"I'm terribly sorry and I certainly would not want to offend anyone, I'm not that sort of person. It has upset me a lot."

Aye aye aye, aye aye aye
Tell you baby, you huggin up the big monkey man
Aye aye aye, aye aye aye
Tell you baby, you huggin up the big monkey man

I never saw you, I only heard of you
huggin up the big monkey man
I never saw you, I only heard of you
huggin up the big monkey man

It's no lie, it's no lie
Them a tell me, you huggin up the big monkey man
It's no lie, it's no lie
Them a tell me, you huggin up the big monkey man

Now I know that, now I understand
You're turning a monkey on me
Now I know that, now I understand
You're turning a monkey on me

Aye aye aye, aye aye aye
Tell you baby, you huggin up the big monkey man
Aye aye aye, aye aye aye
Tell you baby, you huggin up the big monkey man

I was on my way to Banbury Cross,
Then I see a monkey upon a white horse
With rings on he fingers, bells on him toes
Sing a little song, wherever he be
'Cos he's a monkey, 'cos he's a monkey
'Cos he's a weedy little monkey man

Aye aye aye, aye aye aye
Tell you baby, you huggin up the big monkey man
Aye aye aye, aye aye aye
Tell you baby, you huggin up the big monkey man

Well like Cam said, no many gigs this month BUT, there are some!!!

Saturday July 19th We'll be playing at the Maltings for a Charity gig - raising money for the Maltings Youth Theatre. Tobias the Band and Please Take Me Home are also playing with more support TBC.

In August we'll be playing at the Chain Bridge Honey Farm weekend and, hopefully, we'll also be playing at the Spittal Seaside Festival - we're just waiting to find out if they are gonna have a music tent, if they are, we're playing in it!

We'll be in Barrels on August 29th, Support TBC on that one.

And finally, we've agreed gigs with The Home Arms and also Oblo in Eyemouth and we're in the process of sorting out dates an support acts etc.

No bad eh!

Any body wanting to gig with us gimme a shout.

Belta min,

Al.x