Video: Lee Nelson nearly arrested for 'shoplifting'

Lee Nelson - aka character comedian Simon Brodkin - was almost arrested last night when a publicity stunt for his new DVD was mistaken for a real shoplifting incident.

To coincide with a DVD signing at HMV in London's Oxford Street, an actor was hired to pose as a police officer and chase Lee Nelson around the store. When the stunt ended up outside on the street, a real police community support officer spotted the 'chase' and joined in to try and bring the 'thief' to justice.

A video of the incident shows the PCSO grabbing Nelson, with the chav protesting "you can't nick your own DVD". After a bit of rough-and-tumble, with many shoppers and photographers looking on, Nelson was taken back inside the store where it was explained to the community support officer that the theft wasn't real.

A spokeswoman for Brodkin said: "He was doing a signing for his DVD at HMV in Oxford Street, and as a treat for his fans he 'stole' one of his own DVDs, then was chased around the store by an actor dressed up as a police officer. Somehow they ended up out on the pavement, where a real police community support officer got involved, thinking it was a theft taking place. Shoppers were looking on and buses were stopping, it was all very dramatic. The community support officer brought him back into the store where it was explained that it hadn't been a real theft taking place."

Speaking in character later, Brodkin joked: "How can you get arrested for nicking your own DVD? Mr Loophole lawyer, if you're reading this, get me off and I'll sort you out with the 20 other DVDs I took."

Here is a video of the 'arrest':

Lee Nelson Live is out now. Filmed at London's Shepherd's Bush Empire as part of a 65-date national tour, the DVD is the first live stand-up DVD from the character. Below is a clip from this DVD:

Simon Brodkin's character will already be familiar to TV viewers, as he has performed two series of Lee Nelson's Well Good Show on BBC Three. The comedian is now working on a new sketch show for the channel's 2013 line-up, called Lee Nelson's Well Funny People.

Below is Lee Nelson's contribution to last Friday's Children In Need appeal: