Gavin & Stacey actor Mathew Horne has shrugged off the controversy surrounding the recent reunion special.

Towards the end of last year, Mathew and his co-stars reunited for a one-off Christmas episode, which was met with a largely positive response from both viewers and critics.

However, the show wasn’t without its controversies, with almost 900 people complaining to the BBC about a rendition of Fairytale Of New York which featured in the episode, including the uncensored slur “f****t”.

Mathew spoke about the backlash for the first time on the red carpet at this year’s NTAs, admitting he thought it was “a shame”.

“I mean that word which is in the song, it doesn’t mean what it means today,” he told Metro, before swiftly adding: “I’m not in a position to comment on that, I didn’t choose to use the song.”

The actor continued: “The song is a well-known and well-loved song that has been used at Christmas time for many, many years. We felt it was appropriate to use the song in the show.

“That word etymologically means different things, it’s a shame people were offended by it.”

After 866 people complained to the BBC about the slur, the corporation issued a response, featuring similar sentiments to Mathew’s.

They said: “While the word ‘f****t’ is now widely acknowledged as having the potential to offend, the song never suggests or implies that this is, or was ever, an appropriate way to address another person, nor does it link it to homosexuality.

“Nessa and Bryn were seen singing the original lines and we can assure you there was no intention to offend viewers. We understand that some people will find it offensive in any context but we also recognise that the song is widely played and enjoyed in its original form.”

The BBC also cited media regulator Ofcom’s past assertion that it’s “unlikely that audiences would widely perceive [the use of the slur] as a serious attempt to denigrate the homosexual community”.

Last month, HuffPost UK contacted representatives for both Rob Brydon – who sang the lyric in question in the episode – and writer James Corden but did not receive a response.

Ruth Jones – who co-wrote the show, and whose character also appeared in the performance of Fairytale Of New York – previously told The Sun: “It is a different climate. But we have to remain true to the characters, to who they were.

“Characters in Gavin & Stacey are kind and big-hearted, I believe. So I think no one is going to be intentionally hurtful.

“But by the same token, they’re not necessarily going to be completely politically correct or be aware of political correctness.”