Comic Frank tells how he lost savings

Comic Frank Skinner has spoken about losing half his life savings after investing with the Queen's bankers Coutts.

The Oldbury funnyman said he was not interested in making a fortune but just wanted to ensure his money was safe.

The bank advised him to invest everything in the American company AIG.

Skinner, aged 52, said: "I was very nervous about putting all my eggs in one basket and asked them for the worst-case scenario.

"I was told that at the very worst I could lose 10 per cent but that there was no way that would actually happen."

When he read that AIG was in trouble he tried to contact the bank by phone and email but staff took three weeks to get back to him.

He "lost his rag" when told their assets had been frozen and he could not have his money back.

"I couldn't believe it. In the past, whenever I've read about people losing a load of money, I would think it served them right for being greedy," he said.

"But I wasn't being greedy. I just wanted to protect what I'd earned."

He told them he wanted to take all his money out but was advised he would not receive very much.

Skinner, who was brought up in a council house on Bristnall Hall Road, suffered sleepless nights, fearing he would lose his luxury London flat.

He has since got half his cash back but the remainder is frozen until 2012.

The money he has had back he has put into National Savings.