Why William Shatner apologized to Devon after a 2012 TV joke
In 2012, William Shatner joked on BBC's Have I Got News For You that the Devon town of Ilfracombe was "laced with prostitution" after mispronouncing its name. Former mayor Paul Crabb complained, and Shatner sent a tongue-in-cheek written apology—signed "Bill"—that half defended the quip before formally saying sorry. The episode shows how panel-show banter can become a real headache for a seaside community.
Key Takeaways
- Shatner made the remark in May 2012 while guest-hosting Have I Got News For You during a segment on Ilfracombe as an Olympic torch relay stop.
- After Charlie Brooker said his mispronunciation sounded "deeply sexual," Shatner claimed the town was "laced with prostitution."
- Former Ilfracombe mayor Paul Crabb emailed Shatner's agents; the actor replied with a formal but facetious apology signed "Bill."
- Panelist Paul Merton quipped, "You try and buy a stick of rock there."
- Crabb accepted the apology, though some residents were still upset by the barb.
What did William Shatner say about Ilfracombe on Have I Got News For You?
William Shatner was filling in as host on the BBC panel show when the conversation turned to Ilfracombe, a coastal town in Devon chosen as a venue for the Olympic torch relay. The Canadian actor struggled with the pronunciation, and fellow panellist Charlie Brooker remarked that Shatner had made the name sound "deeply sexual."
Instead of moving on, Shatner escalated the bit. According to Far Out Magazine, he declared that "the place is laced with prostitution." Show regular Paul Merton fired back: "You try and buy a stick of rock there."
At 81, Shatner was decades removed from commanding the USS Enterprise, but the line landed on primetime British television. What began as pronunciation comedy quickly became a story about a real place and its reputation.
How did Devon officials respond to William Shatner's joke?
Ilfracombe did not let the comment slide. Former mayor Paul Crabb emailed Shatner's agents to relay his displeasure and invited the actor to visit and see the town for himself.
Crabb's message was pointed but witty. As reported by the BBC, he noted that while Shatner had "been to places no man has gone before" as Captain Kirk, he had never set foot in Ilfracombe—and had no basis for the claim.
Crabb offered to show Shatner that there was no prostitution in Ilfracombe and that it was "a lovely coastal town with spectacular scenery and a close community." The exchange turned a throwaway gag into a minor diplomatic incident for Devon.
What did William Shatner's apology letter actually say?
To his credit, Shatner did not ignore the complaint. He replied by email, signing off simply as "Bill," and delivered an apology that was sincere in form but unmistakably Shatner in tone.
He argued that prostitution "commonly means sex for something of value" and wrote that he would be "hard pressed to believe that sex was not being had in Ilfracombe for something of value, perhaps a lengthy marriage, children or a valuable career."
He then offered the line that closed the dispute: "In any event, my apologies for having singled out Ilfracombe as a potential haven for prostitution. With you overseeing, I am sure that will not happen." Crabb seemed reasonably satisfied, telling outlets that most locals would have taken the remark as tongue-in-cheek humour, even if a few were genuinely offended.
Why does the 2012 Devon apology still follow William Shatner?
More than a decade later, the Ilfracombe episode remains one of the stranger footnotes in William Shatner's long public life. It sits alongside his Star Trek legacy and his willingness to court controversy with theatrical confidence.
Recent interviews tied to Star Trek's 60th anniversary show Shatner still commanding headlines at 95, openly discussing whether he would ever play Kirk again. For more on how veteran stars navigate fame and missteps, see our Celebrity Breaking News coverage.
The Devon letter is a reminder that a single improvised joke can outlive the broadcast that spawned it—and that William Shatner's apologies are rarely ordinary.