Comedian Jo Brand has been forced to apologise after describing Streatham as a “s*** hole” on television.
Her comment on the BBC1 show Have I Got News For You angered officials who said she had done “serious damage” to the town’s reputation.
Famous former residents of Streatham in the borough of Lambeth include Sir Roger Moore, Ken Livingstone, Naomi Campbell and Have I Got News panel member Paul Merton.
Brand’s spokeswoman today tried to defuse the row, saying there was “no serious intent”.
But Angelina Purcell, Streatham town centre manager for Lambeth council, said Brand had “let herself down badly” with the “flippant” remark.
She told Brand in a letter: “You clearly do not understand the serious damage your flippant comment has had on our collective efforts to transform Streatham’s image. Together with the committed people of this town, we continue to make strides in reversing the town’s economic decline.
"You’ve made my job 10 times harder with the use of one word and I’m sure the 60,000 residents and 3,000 businesses feel just as angry as I do. For us, you’ve let yourself down badly Jo and I hope you’ll think twice about doing something like this again.”
Brothel madam Cynthia Payne also brought the area to national attention in 1978 when police raided her home at 32 Ambleside Avenue and found a sex party in progress, at which patrons paid for services in luncheon vouchers.
Brand, who lives a few miles away in Dulwich, said on the programme that Streatham High Road was voted the worst street in Britain in a 2002 BBC poll, adding: “Don’t go there.”
Her spokeswoman said: “When Jo is on tour she says this about every place she goes to and she has never had any complaints. It was just a throwaway remark which in no way was supposed to have any serious intent behind it.
“As for some people not finding it funny, we’ll take your word for it and she won’t diss Streatham again in this way. We sincerely apologise for any offence that may have been caused.”
