Alternative comic-turned-best-selling author Ben Elton has hastily and unconvincingly backtracked after getting in hot water for insulting the Queen and Prince Philip.

Admittedly, the insults weren't quite in the same league as Frankie Boyle's infamous gag about the Queen - but he still seemed to upset a few people by labelling her a "sad, old lady" and referring to her husband as a "mad, old bigot".

He is now insisting that the comments, made on Australian TV's Good News Week show, were "taken out of context".

We're not sure what context those quotes would have had a different meaning in, but unfortunately he doesn't really elaborate.

A representative for the 50-year-old said: "Ben Elton apologises for any offence which may have been caused.

"The quotes attributed to him have been taken entirely out of context."

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