MPs and bankers taken in by comedy sympathy letters

MPs and bankers including Sir Peter Viggers and Fred Goodwin were taken in by comedy letters claiming they had been unfairly villified by the expenses scandal and the collapse of RBS.

Colin Nugent, 62, wrote letters of support to about 200 financiers, businessmen and politicians over the past 12 months - and received more than 100 replies.

Sir Peter, whose claim for a duck house became the emblem of the MPs' expenses scandal, thanked him for his ''generous'' message while grateful former Royal Bank of Scotland chief Sir Fred even sent him a bunch of flowers.



But Mr Nugent was the creation of comedy writer and producer Geoff Atkinson, who has worked extensively with satirical impressionist Bremner.

His letters and the replies he received are collected in a new book, Colin Nugent Saves Britain.

Here Geoff Atkinson explains the story behind the letters of Colin Nugent. And you can read a selection of the letters and replies here.