Africa row actress shelves her book
An actress accused of fabricating her African memoir has removed it from shelves.
Louise Linton issued an “unequivocal apology” after claims she was threatened by mi litiamen during a gap year in Zambia were dubbed far-fetched by locals.
In her book In Congo’s Shadow, Linton claims that, as an 18-year- old in 1999, she hid in dense jungle after rebels landed near a village she was working in.
The former pupil of Fettes College, Edinburgh, who appeared in Lions for Lambs with Tom Cruise, wrote: “If I was discovered…I would be raped, I’d be cut down.”
But Zambian Gerard Zytkow, who has owned a lodge near where Linton was staying since 1994, was one of many who took to social media to rubbish her claims.
They said Zambia has savannah grasslands, not dense jungle, and the Congolese conflict had not reached Zambia in 1999.
Gerard wrote: “Shame on her for her mind-boggling nonsensical fiction.”
Linton said: “I am deeply sorry to those I’ve offended.”
The 29-year- old spent nine years collecting trolleys at Asda before Bridges took him for a pint and convinced him to make comedy his career.
The comedy superstar tipped Darren as “a natural with a real bright future” and he is now one of hit BBC pol ice spoof Scot Squad’s most popular characters.
He’s just had a sell- out run at the Glasgow Comedy Festival and is gearing up for his own show at the Edinburgh Fringe.
Darren, of Bishopbriggs, Glasgow, said: “I would not be where I am today if it wasn’t for Kevin.
“I met him a good few years ago just before he was famous and he was really encouraging.
“When I met him again a few years later I was still working full-time at Asda but doing comedy gigs in my spare time.
“He offered me the chance to work with him and Frankie Boyle doing a warm-up gig at the SECC. I couldn’t get time off so I pulled my first sickie.
“After the gig, I went for a pint with Kevin and after chatting to him I realised it was time to be brave and follow my dream. I went into work the next day and quit my job.”
He added: “There were a few raised eyebrows from my bosses who wondered how a daft trolley boy could think he could make it as a comedian.
“I knew instantly that I had made the right decision.
“I had been in limbo for so long, not brave enough or confident enough in my own abilities to give stand-up a real go. After that everything clicked into place, I got the part in Scot Squad and I began to get regular gigs.”
Last year, Darren received a Scottish Bafta New Talent nomination for Scot Squad and reached the finals of the So You Think You’re Funny? and Scottish Comedian of the Year competitions.
His clips on vlogging site Vine have been viewed 1.9million times and although he’s left his supermarket job behind, his shop days make great material for his act.
He said: “It’s quite ironic that I’ve ended up as Bobby the trolley boy in Scot Squad and that my Fringe show