Radio 1 DJ Greg James has apologized after being accused of negative depictions of disability in a video promoting his latest children’s book.

On Friday, James and co-writer Chris Smith appeared in a now-deleted promotional video for a new version of Roald Dahl’s classic “The Twits.”

In the clip, the pair can be seen looking over illustrator Emily Jones’s shoulder as she works on her yet-to-be-revealed protagonist.

The trio can be seen discussing how to make the duo “more disgusting” and when Ms Jones suggests wearing glass eyes, James can be seen nodding, with Smith replying: “That’s it. What a pair of disgusting fools” !”

The exchange was quickly criticized by charities including Scope and the Royal National Institute for Blind People (RNIB).

James responded to the criticism in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, writing: “We are deeply sorry for the offense caused by posting the video.

“This was absolutely not our intention. We apologize unreservedly. It is now gone.

“We understand that words matter, and we’re proud to support and welcome everyone into the magical world of children’s books.

“We would never dream of deliberately excluding anyone.”

The 38-year-old DJ added that he and Smith had been “trying to pay homage to one of Twit’s most famous pranks involving a glass of beer as a reminder of two of Dahl’s notoriously terrible pranks.”

“This is in no way suggesting that this forms any part of the new storyline, nor are we intending to suggest that there is anything objectionable about this,” he wrote.

“Unfortunately, the word ‘disgusting’ seemed to be a direct comment on that. That was our mistake.

“We are shocked that something like this has happened but fully understand why there is anger.”

James and Smith’s book The Fool Next Door is part of a new series of characters created by the late Dahl.

Although the video has been removed, the chief executive of national disability charity Sense said there were still “concerns”.

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Richard Kramer said: “However, we remain concerned that the book, scheduled for release later this year, will include a disabled character and how ‘disgusting’ they are, in the words of the video.

“It’s 2024 and promoting negative depictions of disability is wrong. Disability is not a character flaw.”

The Press Association has contacted Puffin Books and Roald Dahl for comment.