My ex-husband was not a paedophile, Dame Joan Collins says

Dame Joan Collins has denied that her ex-husband Anthony Newley was a paedophile following her son's comments in a national newspaper.

Artist Sacha Newley told the Sunday Times that Anthony Newley's film 'Can Heironymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness' is "essentially a confession of paedophilia".

He labelled his father's sexual desires as “dangerous” and “destructive”, saying that his father "was drawn to youthfulness; he thought innocence was an aphrodisiac."

But Dame Joan, 84, rubbished her son’s comments.

She said in a statement:  "As far as I'm concerned this is absolutely untrue. I have nothing further to add."

The actress' daughter, Tara, also spoken out against her brother, and said she was "deeply upset" by his allegations against their late father.

The 54-year-old said: "I was shocked by my brother's comments. From my end, I don't recognise the man he is describing. I had an incredibly close relationship with my father and am deeply upset by these false allegations."

Singer-songwriter Newley, who died aged 67 in 1999 following a battle with cancer, was Dame Joan's second husband. They were married in 1963 but divorced seven years later.

Rumours had swirled for years in Hollywood about his sexual interests but nothing was ever proved.

Describing growing up in Hollywood, Sacha, 52, said he was often exposed to sex. He said: "My father put sex front and centre. He exposed me to all of that - it was absolutely inappropriate."

He added: "My father was a great, flawed talent. He was a classic sex addict."

Newley was best known for his music, which included co-writing hit songs Feeling Good and James Bond theme tune Goldfinger. He also co-wrote and starred in musicals Stop The World - I Want To Get Off and The Roar Of The Greasepaint - The Smell Of The Crowd.

​CORRECTION:  This article originally quoted claims by Sacha Newley published in a Sunday Times article that his father Anthony Newley was a paedophile. The Sunday Times has subsequently stated that its article was incorrect. Mr Newley did not say his father was a paedophile, but that Anthony Newley's film 'Can Heironymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness' is "essentially a confession of paedophilia". He further stated he did not believe his father had slept with underage girls. We are happy to set the record straight, and have amended the article accordingly.