Ahead of his appearance on Celebrity Big Brother, Jim Davidson has sought to play down accusations of being a homophobe by stating that he once had oral sex with a Thai “ladyboy”.

In an interview with the Daily Star, Davidson said: “I was in Berlin with my bodyguard and we pulled a couple of girls in a bar. I sneaked out the back of this bar and she gave me oral sex.

“Afterwards my minder asked me if I’d noticed anything funny about her. I said, big feet. And he said, ‘Adam’s apple, too.’ It was a fella.”

The 59-year-old comedian has been signed up for the latest series of Channel 5’s Celebrity Big Brother, which starts on 3 January.

Davidson, who has battled alcohol addiction, admitted to domestic violence and has been married five times, said he hopes people will see “the real Jim” in the Big Brother house.

He added: “People who know me know I am not homophobic.

“I say the odd thing that seems to upset people without me realising it.”

In 2007 Davidson insulted the show’s gay current host, Bryan Dowling, by calling him a “shirt lifter” and a “fucking disgrace” when they were both contestants on ITV’s Hell’s Kitchen.

Dowling, who rose to fame after winning the non-celebrity version of Big Brother in 2001, broke down in tears because of the remarks.

Davidson also became embroiled in another anti-gay row in October when commenting on the Jimmy Savile abuse scandal.

The former BBC prime-time Saturday night star wrote on his blog of the disgraced entertainer: “A bloke who’s a loner dresses and acts like a nonce and thinks he is the most important person in the world.

“Hmmm. I knew…and didn’t do anything. Mind you I had no proof. To me he was just another pervert”.

Davidson then added: “There are lots of them in showbiz. There seems to be more gay ones than straight, but that’s because there are probably more gays in showbiz than most professions.”

Gay X Factor finalist Rylan Clark is also joining Davidson in the Big Brother house.