Our story on Thursday about Mark Haddon meeting Will Gompertz — in which the novelist was quoted as calling the BBC arts editor a “f***ing idiot” — caused a stir.
Gompertz said he’d turned to Haddon at the press night of the Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and asked why the actors weren’t taking their curtain call. Cue the remonstration from Haddon because it wasn’t the end of the play.
Haddon has since given his version of events on Twitter and denied using any profanity.
However, Gompertz says he was referring to himself as an idiot in a gag at his own expense, but it got lost in translation. “I doubt the Evening Standard will give me a right of reply so i’m doing it myself …,” began a blogpost from Haddon.
When the Londoner asked for his response, his publisher replied: “Mark has presented his opinions clearly on his blog and is happy to leave the discussion be.”
