1:15pm UK, Monday April 26, 2004

Men Behaving Badly star Neil Morrissey was held by US customs officials for being rude and drunk at Los Angeles airport.

Morrissey was taken into custody after losing his temper with officials while queuing for immigration checks.

180 neil morrissey

Actor blamed red wine

He later apologised for his behaviour and blamed it on the excessive amount of red wine he had consumed during his first class flight from London.

"I was a bit exuberant in the line and I did have something to declare - too much red wine," he said.

The Customs and Immigration Department in LA confirmed Morrissey was held for an hour.

A customs source told the Daily Mirror: "He was unhappy at having to queue for so long in the airport.

"He was shouting and making it clear he didn't want to be queuing. The decision was taken to detain him until he calmed down a bit."

Morrissey, 41, had flown to the US to visit girlfriend Emma Killick.

The couple met while Morrissey was filming in LA.

Morrissey last hit the headlines four years ago when he had an affair with Amanda Holden, who was then married to Les Dennis.