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Boy George loses BB appeal

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Boy George
Boy George has been evicted from the Celebrity Big Brother house before the programme starts.

The 48-year-old former Culture Club singer and DJ - real name George O'Dowd - was seeking at the High Court to quash a decision by the Probation Service banning him from the Channel 4 show, which begins on 3 January.

But Mr Justice Bean dismissed his application and will give his reasons later on Wednesday.

The singer is free under licence after serving four months of his 15-month sentence for assaulting and falsely imprisoning rent boy Audun Carlsen, 29.

Alison MacDonald, representing Boy George, told the judge on Tuesday that the "internationally-renowned singer-songwriter and DJ" was challenging the probation service's decision to revoke the permission given by his supervising probation officer allowing him to appear on the show.

She said the decision was based on fears that the service "would get another kicking" in the media if Boy George was allowed to appear and it would undermine public confidence in the justice system.

Boy George admitted that heroin and other drugs had "got him into trouble" and that under their influence he behaved "in an appalling way" towards Mr Carlsen. He deeply regretted it and "wholly deserved" his prison sentence.

But Ms MacDonald said he now wanted to rebuild his career and reputation.

Richard Clayton QC, representing the Probation Service, argued that allowing George to use the show to promote his status as a celebrity and earn "a lucrative sum of money" could undermine public confidence in the criminal justice system.

It would also pose "a high level of risk" to the reputation of the London Probation Service.

© Press Association

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