LAST week, my daughter miraculously walked away from an accident that destroyed her car and could easily have injured or killed her. The fact that she survived with only bruises and a few aches and pains meant that it was a good day.

Because of my profession, there was media interest and I unashamedly gave access to reporters to highlight the danger of the particular pothole that all witnesses agreed was the sole cause of my daughter losing control of her car on the A404. As a result of the media interest the pothole has been repaired ahead of its scheduled repair date later in the month. In my opinion that is a good result.

However, there have been suggestions on the BFP website that the publicity generated by my ‘fame’ is a bad thing. ‘Why report this? Only because it’s a BFP columnist…’ or ‘an ex Dr Who?’ But surely it would be perverse not use the opportunity presented by my being a moderately successful actor to achieve something worth achieving? My daughter survived that pothole; other drivers might not have been so lucky. A brief perusal of the BFP website shows that many other drivers recognised that the particular pothole was a disaster waiting to happen and were glad it has been highlighted, but there are always those who resent the opportunities offered to a lucky few to have their voices listened to.

And yes I know I am lucky to be afforded that opportunity, but do they suggest I should spurn the chance to do something worthwhile? It is not for reasons of self-aggrandisement that I agree to lend my name to charities and local initiatives that believe (rightly or wrongly) that my public support will attract attention and interest in their organisations.

I would by nature keep my head below all parapets and avoid the flack, but agree when I can to help, partly as a means of paying back in a small way for the good luck I have had in earning a living in a notoriously precarious industry. Yet there always those ready to accuse others of being publicity seekers or self interested when they use their fame for constructive purposes.

As I write this Meera Syal and Jo Brand launched a Dementia Care initiative and people listened and may become involved because of who they are. They both had personal reasons for doing so. Is that a bad thing?