A Sussex MP has admitted granting favours to a man known to millions as a ruthless, double-dealing Texas oil baron.

But Wealden MP Charles Hendry does not expect a scandal to erupt over his new friendship with JR Ewing, alias actor Larry Hagman.

Mr Hendry invited the star of Eighties series Dallas to the final Prime Minister's Question Time of the year after bumping into him in a restaurant.

Mr Hagman and his wife, Maj, spent their 48th wedding anniversary watching Tony Blair and Iain Duncan Smith trade insults across the Commons floor.

The couple then dined at Westminster with Conservative MP Mr Hendry, who confessed to being a big Dallas fan.

He said: "I am of the generation who watched the programme avidly. It was amazing seeing people coming up to him and just flinging their arms around him."

Mr Hendry, shadow minister for young people, was at a Christmas party for the Tories' education and skills team on Monday.

As they were leaving the People's Palace restaurant in London's Royal Festival Hall on Monday, Press officer Tara Hamilton-Miller spotted Mr Hagman.

Mr Hendry asked the actor to sign an autograph for his colleague.

Mr Hagman asked who they were and what their jobs involved and said he had last visited the Houses of Parliament 20 years.

Mr Hendry secured him passes for the public gallery for Question Time on Wednesday.

He said: "He has an image as a hard man but he could not have been more friendly and polite."