TV presenter Jamie Theakston has apologised to his family and friends following embarrassing revelations he was blackmailed after visiting a vice club.

A national newspaper said Jamie, 31, had indulged in sex games at the club in Mayfair, London, shortly before Christmas.

Jamie, who was brought up in Ditchling, has recently bought a £500,000 manor close to his parents' home in the village and plays for the local cricket team.

He said he had been taken to the club by a mini-cab driver after he had been at a party until about 4am.

The driver said he knew a late-night drinking club in Mayfair.

Jamie said: "I thought, Why not? It's Christmas. I must have been so totally drunk I told him to take me there."

He said a girl came over and began to do a striptease dance for him before inviting him into a private room.

He said subsequent events were blurred but at one point a group of girls burst in and took a photograph of him.

The first girl then asked for about £40 and Jamie said he realised she was a prostitute, paid her and left.

He discovered his phone was missing so he went back but everyone denied all knowledge of it and the photo.

Jamie said he got a new phone with the same number and on Christmas Day received a text message blackmailing him.

He contacted lawyers when he started to get voicemail messages demanding money .

Jamie said: "I know it was foolish for me to get into this situation in the first place but I'm not married. I'm a single guy. I haven't broken the law. You just have to stand up to these people.

"I've never done anything like this in the past and I'll never do anything like it again.

"As someone who values their privacy, it is extremely embarrassing and I would like to apologise to my close friends and family."

A Scotland Yard spokesman said no complaint had been made.

Jamie regularly presents Top of the Pops and has his own Radio 1 programme.

He fronted children's Saturday morning show Live and Kicking with Hove star Zoe Ball and also teamed up with her for the Channel 4 show The Priory.

A Radio 1 spokesman said: "This is a personal matter. Jamie remains a vital part of the Saturday morning line-up."

A BBC spokesman said Jamie had not presented a children's show for the organisation for at least two years and as far as he was aware there were no problems with Jamie continuing to present Top of the Pops.