Actors win apology from English charity watchdog in row over board ‘coup’

Charity Commission says lessons have been learned after dispute involving Penelope Keith, Sian Phillips and ABF

The actors Dame Penelope Keith and Dame Sian Phillips have won a hard-fought apology from England's charity watchdog after it admitted to blunders in its handling of a case involving a 40m actors' hardship fund.

The pair, who with others were removed from the board of the Actors' Benevolent Fund (ABF) two years ago in what they argued was an unlawful coup by rival trustees, had accused the Charity Commission of mismanaging its stewardship of the charity.