TV presenter Matthew Kelly last night defiantly went back on stage after declaring his innocence of the sex allegations against him.

The 52-year-old Stars in Their Eyes host was released on bail earlier yesterday after being questioned by Surrey Police over child sex abuse claims.

Kelly then returned to Birmingham to perform as Captain Hook in the pantomime Peter Pan. He had been arrested at the theatre on Thursday.

"Mr Kelly emphatically denies the allegation made against him which has come as a complete shock," said a statement released on his behalf by London law firm Kingsley Napley.

"He has cooperated fully today with the police and will of course continue to do so should that be necessary. It should be noted that he has been released without charge.

"As this matter is ongoing, it would obviously not be appropriate for Mr Kelly to make any further statement at this time."

Kelly left Guildford police station in Surrey 20 hours after being arrested by police investigating allegations of sex abuse involving young boys.

Birmingham Repertory Theatre manager Nigel Cairns said last night that Kelly went on stage at the beginning of the 7.30pm performance to loud applause and cheers. He added: "We are delighted that he has been able to make the show."

Kelly referred to the stress that the allegations had put him through when he and the cast made their curtain call at the end of the play.

He told the audience: "I would just like to say a very big thank you for your support in this. You obviously know it's a really hard time."

The presenter has been questioned by detectives about allegations understood to have surfaced because of Operation Arundel, the inquiry which saw pop mogul Jonathan King jailed.

But police, who bailed Kelly to return on March 12, denied they were carrying out a celebrity witch-hunt.

Reports claimed that dozens of stars and politicians could face arrest after it emerged that Kelly and Bay City Rollers manager Tam Paton were both being questioned.

But Surrey Police insisted their investigation was focused on specific allegations and was not a "wide-ranging trawl of the showbusiness world".

Paton, 64, was understood to have been arrested in connection with the same allegations at his Edinburgh home.

He has also been released on bail until March 12.

* Kelly is due to appear in Of Mice And Men next month, at the Civic Theatre in Darlington.

Last night, theatre bosses were quick to confirm that the production would go ahead - but they do not yet know whether their leading man will make the show.

Marketing manager Nick Bagshaw said the week-long run of the play had been selling well on the strength of Kelly's name.

"His arrest has come as a complete bolt from the blue," he said.