Prince Charles refuses cameo

Prince Charles has turned down an invitation to appear on British science fiction TV programme Doctor Who.

The show's writer and executive producer Russell T Davies wrote to Clarence House, the royal residence, asking if Prince Charles would like to make a cameo appearance in the hit BBC drama, according to reports.

Even though he is a self-confessed "big fan" of the show, the prince declined the invitation.

"He turned us down, the miserable swine," Davies said at the ongoing 10-day Cheltenham Literature Festival while talking about his new book Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale.

A Clarence House spokeswoman, however, dismissed reports that Prince Charles had turned down the request.

"A letter was sent into the Prince of Wales' office and was dealt with on his behalf. We receive many requests and it's impossible to accept all of them," she averred.

Previous guests on Doctor Who have included celebrities like singer Kylie Minogue, actress Felicity Kendall and comedian Catherine Tate.