ACTOR Robert Hughes could have a potential criminal case against him thrown out of court because of the media frenzy surrounding the Hey Dad! sex scandal, a legal expert has warned.

Greg Barns, a director of the Australian Lawyers Alliance, said it was possible a judge might find Hughes unable to receive a fair trial.

Hey Dad! ... Robert Hughes as Martin and Sarah Monahan as Jenny in the hit show.

Hughes, now 61 and living in Singapore, has been accused of inappropriately touching young actor Sarah Monahan and other females associated with the popular sitcom, which ran from 1987 to 1994, in which he played the lead.

When approached by an A Current Affair reporter in Singapore last week, Hughes said he ''categorically'' denied all the allegations and had engaged defamation lawyers.