Shamed actor Chris Langham will not be paid for speaking about his life during an Oxford Union debate next month.

The star of the The Thick of it will take part in the debate on May 27, sparking anger from the boss of a children's charity.

His wife Chrissie, speaking at their Cranbrook home today, said he would receive no appearance money or travelling expenses. She said: "He is not being paid, he is doing it for nothing."

Langham was jailed for 10 months at Maidstone Crown Court last September after he was convicted on 15 counts of downloading images of children. He claimed he was doing research for his TV role as a psychologist.

He spent three months in prison, but was released on appeal in November.

Mrs Langham said she had not read the stories in the press criticising the Union for inviting someone to speak who has been convicted of downloading child pornography.

She said: "He was invited to do it and he accepted, there is nothing else. He had a letter inviting him and he gave it some thought and accepted."

Michele Elliott, chief executive of the children's charity Kidscape, said: "We are disappointed that he will, so we are told, be answering questions about his convictions. He has expressed no real remorse."