“It's not been booked:" Public 'misled' over Doncaster evening with Frank Bruno event

The event on March 19 next year had been widely advertised and promoted, with the heavyweight boxer due to meet fans at the Hilton Garden Inn.

But the boxer's agent Dave Davies said the star had not been officially booked to appear.

He said: "The organiser has not officially booked Frank Bruno – he has not been issued or signed a contract.

"Frank and us are concerned the public are being misled into buying tickets for an event that has not even been booked.

"I am not saying the organiser will never book but at the moment he should not be marketing or advertising an event that has not even been booked."

The star's 'appearance' was part of a triple bill of stars at the hotel which also includes singer Chesney Hawkes and Only Fools and Horses star John 'Boycie' Challis.

Organiser Jamie Johnston blamed the announcement on a member of staff 'jumping the gun' and said: "We got ripped by an advertsing company, which I'm very angry about."

"One of my team jumped the gun and advertised the event - he no longer works for us.

"Frank Bruno's agent has asked us to pay for the event, but its not easy when you are in quarantine. When things calm down, I will pay the deposit."

"It is happening, I promise as soon as we pay the cash."

Competing between 1982 and 1996, the pinnacle of Bruno's boxing career was winning the WBC heavyweight title from Oliver McCall at a packed Wembley Stadium in 1995 and also had two fights against Mike Tyson in 1989 and 1996 and a domestic clash against Lennox Lewis in 1993.

He has remained in the limelight since, fighting a well documented battle with mental health which has helped endear him even further to the British public.