Giving evidence on the fourth day of his trial at Manchester Crown Court, he said: "I'm devastated. I am lost. I don't know where this has come from. It has left such a hole in my life. I am like a lost soul."

Asked about the rape allegations he said: "I promise you, never in a million years would I do anything like that ever."

Le Vell said the alleged victim had a "tendency to lie" after the court heard him describe her in police interviews as a "silly girl" who is "seriously deluded".

"I think it was one of those lies that just escalated and she couldn't stop it," he told the court.

After the actor was accused of rape by the alleged victim’s mother, he told police: "When she told me you could have just blew me over. My legs just went to jelly."

The 48-year-old continued: "I just said to the girl's mother, 'Please tell me you are f****** joking. Please, this has got to be a joke'. I was in total shock."

Later in the police interview the officer said Le Vell said: "This is a life changing thing. It will cost me my job."

Michael Le Vell leaving court after his fourth day or trial

Le Vell is accused of 12 charges in all - five counts of rape, three of indecent assault, two counts of sexual activity with a child and two of causing a child to engage in sexual activity.

The alleged offences relate to one complainant and are said to have taken place between September 2002 and September 2010.

Le Vell told the court he had never been arrested or cautioned before.

But Le Vell told police: "I did not rape her and I certainly did not try to smother her."

Reporter Becky Johnson says his barrister put some of the abuse claims to him.