Actor Rik Mayall found himself at the centre of a race storm yesterday after insulting a man while promoting his latest play.

The TV star was out in the centre of Brighton to promote his New Statesman show, which runs at the Theatre Royal from Monday.

Playing the lead character, fictitious New Labour MP Alan B'Stard, Mr Mayall allegedly called a group of people "immigrants" as they walked down the street.

Ramon Sammut, 49, of Penhurst Place, Brighton, said: "I was walking down North Street and I saw a lot of photographers and people milling about. There were two other dark-skinned people walking behind me, and then this guy shouted over at us: 'Hello immigrants'.

"I couldn't believe my ears, and people were laughing. I recognised his face but it was only after I asked someone that I realised it was Rik Mayall.

"I don't think people should be able to say those things, even if they are playing a character. I just don't think it's right."

The New Statesman was an award-winning British sitcom of the late 1980s and early 1990s satirising the Conservative government of the time. It regularly flirted with controversy and was filled with black humour and violent slapstick.

A Theatre Royal spokeswoman said: "We need to stress that Rik Mayall was in character as Alan B'Stard and was entertaining lots of people while promoting the New Statesman show. It was very spontaneous and people enjoyed seeing him."

Mr Mayall was unavailable for comment.