Its adherents may reputedly constitute a significant proportion of the people his Hollywood film studio does business with, but that has not stopped 20th Century Fox boss Rupert Murdoch criticising Scientologists over rumours they are harassing actress Katie Holmes.

Reports began to circulate at the weekend that members of the church were following Ms Holmes when she left the house after it was revealed that she was to divorce husband Tom Cruise, thought to be a high-ranking member.

Rupert Murdoch waded into the row yesterday, in a tweet that called Scientologists "creepy, maybe even evil". The media mogul said: "Scientology back in news. Very weird cult, but big, big money involved with Tom Cruise either number two or three in hiearchy [sic]."