William Shatner - William Shatner Sorry For Ilfracombe Prostitution Jibe

Panellist Charlie Brooker joked with Shatner, when the veteran actor pronounced the name of the town wrong. Brooker remarked that it sounded "deeply sexual" and shortly afterwards, Shatner made the comment about prostitution, to which Brooker joked "that will be their new slogan now." Paul Merton added "you try and buy a stick of rock there." Paul Crabb, one of Ilfracombe's councillors, learned of some the local residents' disgust and wrote to Shatner, via his agent, according to The Telegraph. In the letter, he reportedly wrote "As Captain James T Kirk, Mr Shatner has been to places where no man has gone before, however, the episode of Hignfy clearly shows he has never been to Ilfracombe. If he came we could show him that there is no prostitution in Ilfracombe and that it is a lovely coastal town with spectacular scenery and a close community."

In a comic response, Shatner wrote back to the councilor, saying "In any event, my apologies for having singled out Ilfracombe as a potential haven for prostitution. With you overseeing, I am sure that will not happen."