John Leslie has reportedly quit 'Celebrity Big Brother' just days before the show's launch.
John Leslie
The new series of the reality TV show is meant to kick off in just five days' time, but the former presenter has thrown production into chaos and bosses are now on a frantic hunt to find another star as he's decided to drop out of the line up, despite being offered £600,000 - one of the biggest fees ever - to take part in this year's instalment.
A source told the Daily Star newspaper: "He got cold feet."
However, friends are hoping they can persuade him to take part in the show at a later date as they believe it will help revive his television career following 15 years away.
The insider added: "But he might appear on another series in the future."
John took himself away from the limelight in 2002 when Matthew Wright wrongly linked him to an allegation made by Swedish telly beauty Ulrika Jonsson in her autobiography in which she claimed she had been raped by an "an acquaintance".
Little did the former 'Blue Peter' star know that a year later he would also be accused of two sex assaults on an actress in 1997. He was later cleared of the all allegations.
But bosses were hoping that the 52 year old would open up about his fall from grace while inside the house and allow viewers to carve out a new perspective of him.
Meanwhile, although producers are devastated John has pulled out, there will still be plenty of drama as Shaun Williamson, Coronation Street's Shobna Gulati, Girls Aloud band member Sarah Harding and as 'The Only Way Is Essex' heartthrob Pete Wicks have also been linked to this year's show - although the line-up is yet to be confirmed.
'Celebrity Big Brother' will return to Channel 5 on August 1 at 9pm.
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