BBC pulls its top Christmas drama after rape claims against star
THE BBC has been forced to pull its big-budget Agatha Christie drama from the Christmas schedules in light of the rape allegations against one of its stars – Ed Westwick.
In a crushing blow for the corporation, its star-studded adaptation of Ordeal By Innocence – also featuring Eleanor Tomlinson and Bill Nighy – has been thrown into jeopardy and might not make it on to our screens.
The drama had been pencilled in as a leading ratings draw for prime-time viewing between Christmas and New Year.
Calls for the BBC to axe the adaptation, which has cost several million pounds to produce, have been mounting since two women came forward this week to accuse Westwick of rape.
Yesterday, it announced that while it was making no ‘judgment’ on the allegations – which Westwick denies – it would not include Ordeal by Innocence in the schedules ‘until these matters are resolved’.
Meanwhile, co-producers Mammoth Screen and Agatha Christie Limited said they ‘supported’ the BBC’s decision.
It is understood crisis talks are currently under way between the three parties as they await the outcome of the Los Angeles police investigation into Westwick.
The actor, who grew up in Stevenage, Hertfordshire and rose to fame in the US teen drama Gossip Girl, has denied the allegations made against him by American actresses Kristina Cohen and Aurelie Wynn and has vowed to ‘clear his name’.
Miss Cohen accused the British actor of raping her after she fell asleep at his Holly- wood Hills home in February 2014. In response to Miss Cohen’s allegation, the 30year-old said in a statement: ‘I have never forced myself in any manner on any woman. I certainly have never committed rape.’
After Miss Wynn said she suffered a ‘similar’ ordeal, he said in a message on Twitter: ‘It is disheartening and sad to me that as a result of two unverified and provably untrue social media claims, there are some in this environment who could ever conclude I have had anything to do with such vile and horrific conduct.
‘I have absolutely not, and I am cooperating with the authorities so that they can clear my name as soon as possible.’
However, the accounts by the two women and the ongoing police investigation have given the BBC a difficult decision over what to do with future productions involving Westwick. It was announced yesterday that Westwick had ‘paused’ from filming the second series of BBC2 comedy White Gold while he dealt with the allegations.
The highly-anticipated three-part adaptation of Ordeal by Innocence, a murder mystery written in 1958, was filmed in August and September and was the first production following a major deal struck last year between the BBC and Agatha Christie Limited.
Along with Westwick, Poldark actress Miss Tomlinson and Nighy, the all-star cast also includes Morven Christie from TV drama The Replacement and Downton Abbey’s Matthew Goode. The BBC has long relied on Agatha Christie adaptations in the Christmas TV ratings battle.
Last year’s two-part drama The Witness For The Prosecution, starring Kim Cattrall
‘Clear my name as soon as possible’
and Toby Jones, was a ratings hit, drawing an average overnight audience of 4.6million.
A representative of Mammoth Screen declined to comment yesterday on whether Ordeal by Innocence could be re-shot to remove Westwick, as has happened with the J Paul Getty biopic starring Kevin Spacey, in light of the allegations against him.
The British Film Institute was due to host a screening of Ordeal by Innocence in December, with Westwick expected to attend, but it is understood this has been put on hold.
A statement by the BBC said: ‘The BBC is not making any judgment but until these matters are resolved we will not include Ordeal by Innocence in the schedules.’
ANOTHER celebrity accused of improper sexual advances – Emmywinning American comedian and actor Louis CK – has admitted the allegations against him are true.
The New York Times reported five women had come forward to accuse him of sexual misconduct dating back at least 15 years. Two female comedians said the creator and star of comedy series Louie committed a sex act in front of them in 2002. And in a statement the 50-year-old admitted the claims were true.