The black man who voices the puppet of Elmo on Sesame Street has taken leave amid allegations that he had a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old boy

Kevin Clash, 52, has taken a leave of absence from the popular children's show after the program's lawyers were contacted by a 23-year-old man who claims that he had a sexual relationship with the puppeteer seven years ago, when he was aged 16. Clash has apparently admitted that he had a relationship with the man, but only after the accuser was an adult. Clash joined Sesame Street in the mid-80s.