by Kev Geoghegan

BBC News reporter



Everett plays three roles in the new St Trinian's film

Actor Rupert Everett says if he had the power, he would '"cancel" the London Olympics in 2012.

Everett, 50, told the BBC he thought the event would turn into "a very expensive disaster" for the capital.

His comments came after Dame Judi Dench expressed concerns that British theatre funding was being siphoned off, to the tune of £100m, to pay for the event.

Everett is currently starring in the new St Trinian's film, The Legend Of Fritton's Gold.

"If I was King, I would cancel the Olympics tomorrow," the actor said.

"I don't like the Olympics anyway," he added, "I don't think they're very sporting and I think London is already dysfunctional enough as it is."

"Disaster"

In an interview with the Times newspaper last week, Dame Judi said she was "concerned that they've taken a lot of the subsidy to the arts away for the Olympics".

The Oscar-winner called for funding to be ring-fenced, saying she "mourned" the loss of a number of repertory companies.

In April 2007, Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell announced that the Arts Council England would lose out on more than £100m of its anticipated funding over the next four years to help pay for the London Olympics in 2012.

"I just think it's going to be a disaster, a very expensive disaster," said Everett.

St Trinian's: The Legend of Fritton's Gold opens in the UK on Friday.