**US chat show host David Letterman has confessed during a recording of his show that he had sexual relationships with female members of his staff.**He said an attempt had been made to blackmail him over the affairs.
Mr Letterman told his studio audience that a person threatened to expose the relationships unless a payment of $2m (£1.2m) was made.
He said he went to prosecutors at the Manhattan District Attorney’s office and an arrest was made on Thursday.
The person who was arrested has not been named.
Mr Letterman told the audience in New York that as part of the investigation, he had issued a “phoney” $2m cheque to the individual and the arrest followed.
“This morning, I did something I’ve never done in my life,” he said.
“I had to go downtown and testify before a grand jury.”
He said that in his testimony he acknowledged sexual relationships with members of his staff.
His production company declined to comment further.
David Letterman has presented the Late Show on CBS since 1993.
He married his long-term girlfriend Regina Lasko in March and they have a six-year old son.