Petition launched to stop Justin Lee Collins appearing in Celebrity Big Brother
A petition has been launched by the family of Justin Lee Collins' ex-girlfriend after rumours that the Bristolian comedian could be appearing in Celebrity Big Brother as a housemate.
The petition - apparently set up by the family of Anna Larke - currently has 700 supporters.
At St Albans Crown Court in October Collins – who denied the charges – was found guilty of harassing Miss Larke, 38, after a ten-day trial.
Collins, who lived with Ms Larke in London after separating from his wife in Clifton, was sentenced to 140 hours of unpaid work.
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During his ten-day trial the court heard details of the couple's tempestuous relationship in which they frequently fell out and argued.
Video games public relations worker Ms Larke, 38, claimed Collins subjected her to various levels of emotional and domestic abuse.
She alleged that Collins, also 38, made her write down in a Pukka pad all her previous sexual encounters, regardless of how graphic.
Collins, of Kew, south-west London, who made a name for himself with Channel 4's The Friday Night Project, denied the charge of harassment and said recovering alcoholic Ms Larke, who moved in with him in January 2011, was obsessive, jealous and possessive and would send him a "barrage" of text messages wanting to know where he was and who he was with.
The petition, addressed to Channel 5, says: "Withdraw offer for Justin Lee Collins to appear to Celebrity Big Brother."
Channel 5 has not yet officially confirmed who will be appearing on the show, but there have been reports that Collins is one of the celebrity contestants.
The BBC reports that Miss Larke said she was shocked that, just two months on, Collins could "make a comeback" on the reality show.
"The whole idea is just tacky and irreverent," she told the BBC.
"I don't think he should go on the show and be given the chance to talk about what happened - it's wrong.
"People who have read about his abuse won't believe they are seeing him on TV - but it will get people watching.
"He's got that massive forum in front of millions of people."
She said she decided with her brother, Alex, to start a petition.
Emily Koch - Emily is a journalist living in Bristol, where she works as a digital publisher for Northcliffe Digital. She writes for ThisisBristol and was previously a senior reporter on The Post.
Comments
by katachua
Saturday, December 15 2012, 1:51PM
“Remind me never to get up with the Larke.”
by Gazzabristol
Saturday, December 15 2012, 12:09PM
“Are her family and the petition supporters really this stupid?
They just tripled the appearance fee he can command for BB by raising interest in him. He must be loving it!
Not that I have any objection to him doing it as he served his punishment.
It sounded like they were both as bad as each other anyway. Six of one, half a dozen of the other. She is hardly a model a citizen by the sounds of it, perhaps current and future employers should consider her position...
As far as the truth goes, is she not coming across as being a bitter, vindictive and obsessed woman? I am starting to believe his side of the story.
Move on love. Let go and start focussing on your own life.”
by BerttheBlue
Saturday, December 15 2012, 11:48AM
“@smilingdi: If you find the tapes she recorded on YT you will hear some of the reasons why JLC was enraged, she had threesomes on a train with two other men, snorted coke for fun, just the starting point.
I would never condone violence, however there are always two sides to a story and it seems this was a man who was regularly humiliated, he would have been much better off today just walking away from the piece of trash but instead he took the wrong path.
How she and her few hundred supporters think they can mizle someone after the punishment has been dished out is a mystery, my guess she is bricking it at the thought of the other side of the story coming out, and so it should.”
by Lone_Ranger
Saturday, December 15 2012, 11:24AM
“smilingdi: On what grounds would a slander claim be based?”
by smilingdi
Saturday, December 15 2012, 8:27AM
“JLC was found guilty and he did his time so why now shouldnt he continue his working life??? I personally still think theres more to this story than has been said. Is Anna scared the truth might finally come out on BB??? If i was JLC id now be suing her for harassment and slander.
I hope BB still keep JLC on the show as ill be watching to hear what comes out”
by corncups
Saturday, December 15 2012, 8:26AM
“Is he paying the Evening Post for all publicity they give him?”
by davespirates
Friday, December 14 2012, 10:24PM
“@ westywardy
"who cares"
who cares indeed never watch it never will watch.
Awful telly.”
by Stephen_L
Friday, December 14 2012, 6:40PM
“Wouldn't it be crueller to let him take part?”
by lilmizz74
Friday, December 14 2012, 6:14PM
“What does it matter it's not like anyone watches it anyway!!”
by Ourbads
Friday, December 14 2012, 5:23PM
“As she is so desperate for fame, perhaps she should apply.
I might just tune in if the pair of them were locked in the house together.”