Jeremy Irons: I was fondled as boy

The actor has revealed he was fondled by men as a boy and described how he “loves touching”.

Irons, 64, caused controversy in 2011 when he was quoted in the Radio Times as saying: “If a man puts his hand on a woman’s bottom, any woman worth her salt can deal with it.”

Speaking about the outrage he caused, he said: “I love touching. I always touch people. I don’t think I said ‘bottom’ but of course I was misquoted — f***ing Radio Times.

“I think we’re very robust as human beings. I had people when I was younger trying to feel me up. Older men. I just told them to get lost.”