The Gavin & Stacey star admits he regrets the off-colour outburst he made when he accepted an award on behalf of the Oscar-nominated actress – when he unwisely joked he’d been having a passionate affair with her.

Now he is worried that Keira subsequently gave him the cold shoulder at a recent party. “She didn’t come and say hello,” says James, adding of his impromptu jibe:

 “Truly, I thought about doing that 20 seconds before I went up. On my life. It just came out. It really was just a joke,” he tells Esquire magazine.

“I would like to know she did know that. I think she’s great.”

Keira, over to you.