Jack Whitehall has spoken on Desert Island Discs about making a joke about the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.

His joke, which aired on Channel 4's Big Fat Quiz Of The Year in 2012, caused controversy and, he says, upset his family.*

"I have a relatively thick skin but I never wanted to drag them into it," he told Kirsty Young.

He says he is now a "lot more careful" about what he says. "That was not nice, because it was something I'd said that caused them upset and that was the bit that hurt the most." 

The 29-year-old, who is due to host the Brit Awards this year, spoke further about his relationship with his family: "We don't really talk about our emotions as a family, we're not necessarily very good at that, but it's amazing...I'm so close to my family, and they're so supportive."

He said that having a father who was a showbiz agent had not helped his career. "To become a stand-up comedian, the fact that my dad used to look after Christopher Biggins doesn't necessarily help you get stage time...that's the bit that needles me, and now I've said it people will needle with me more!"

His choices included 20th Century Boy by T Rex - Whitehall is due to play Marc Bolan in a forthcoming Sky drama.

He also chose Nat King Cole's Let There Be Love, which reminded him of his childhood, the theme from ET and The Circle of Life from The Lion King, Gypsy Kings' Bamboleo, New Order's Blue Monday, She's Gone by Hall & Oates and Runaway by The Corrs. For his book he chose Nigel Williams' The Wimbledon Poisoner and for luxury item he chose a dinner jacket.

Desert Island Discs is on Radio 4 at 11.15am on Sunday, February 4 and then on catch-up here. 

*This is probably the Whitehall joke in question, referring to the Jubilee celebrations: "I have a theory. She [the Queen] didn't sit down for the entirety of that thing, and people were talking about that. It was the day after the night of her anniversary and Prince Philip woke up with a urinary infection ... I'm just saying what everyone's thinking, people."