The production company that sent a picture of Richard Blackwood in error to Dane Baptiste to approve for a press run has apologised.

Deadline has reported that a spokesperson for production company Monkey Kingdom has said: "We are sincerely sorry for our error, which was deeply offensive and inexcusable. As a production company, we are very proud of our work contributing to greater diversity on screen and behind the camera, and know that today we have unintentionally undermined important and much needed progress.

We have apologised privately to Dane and Richard. We have also committed to redouble our efforts to be a production company that upholds the highest standards of inclusivity.”

After Baptiste received the picture yesterday he tweeted: "This just in: Tv production company just sent me press shots of myself to approve before they start the press run. This is the picture the sent ME of ME. I swear on my mother’s soul they sent it. #DiversityandInclusion indeed #BlackLivesMatter"

His tweet received over 18,000 likes and over three thousand retweets. Actor Noel Clarke, who recently drew attention to the fact that he was absent from a film poster despite his name being featured, replied: "Bro!! I wanna say this isn't real. But sadly I know it is. It never ends. #BLM"

Baptiste added on Twitter: "This is not funny, but I swear by all that is divine That this isn’t a joke. This is why representation matters. B/C if you’ve only seen Richard and Lenny over 40 years, how would you know British comedy industry; give me my respect. It’s embarrassing now." He later added: "I meant this IS funny".