Sir Elton John has been called as a defence witness in the trial of Kevin Spacey at Southwark Crown Court.

The 76-year-old and his husband David Furnish will give evidence via a video link from Monaco.

Spacey, an Academy Award-winning actor, is defending 12 sex abuse charges at Southwark Crown Court against four men between 2001 and 2013.

The defendant, standing trial under his full name Kevin Spacey Fowler, was labelled a “sexual bully” when proceedings began last month.

He pleaded not guilty in January to three counts of indecent assault, three counts of sexual assault and one count of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent.

The two-time Academy Award winner also previously denied four further charges of sexual assault and one count of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent.

The trial continues.