Pitt pals’ fury at ‘deadbeat dad’ claims
BY CHRISTOPHER BUCKTIN BRAD Pitt’s friends have rubbished his ex Angelina Jolie’s claim that he hasn’t paid enough child support.
They backed the actor, 54, after court papers filed by Jolie, 43, in Los Angeles claimed Pitt had failed to provide any “meaningful” cash for their six kids since their September 2016 split.
Pitt’s friends claim he has provided hundreds of thousands of dollars each month to pay for his kids’ therapists, travel expenses and bodyguards.
They also accused Jolie of trying to smear him during their bitter divorce.
One pal said: “Brad has lived up to his commitments as far as child support and will continue to.
“They try to portray him as a deadbeat dad but nothing could be further from the truth.” ASHLEY Roberts will be favourite to lift the Strictly glitterball after sashaying her way on to the line-up.
The 36-year-old performed on stage for years with girlband the Pussycat Dolls alongside Nicole Scherzinger and Kimberley Wyatt.
The singer once studied modern dance and has starred as a backing dancer in numerous music videos.
A source said: “Ashley is a hot favourite because of her dance experience with the Dolls, as well as having trained as a dancer.
“Although she might not have done much ballroom or Latin, being able to pick up choreography quickly, as well as her rhythm, is sure to give her an edge.”
Ashley – whose hits with the Pussycat Dolls include Don’t Cha – will have an advantage over other celebs such as Capital radio presenter Vick Hope and Steps star Faye Tozer.
Ashley has appeared BY TOM BRYANT as a backing dancer in videoes for Pink’s Trouble and Counting Crows’ Accidentally In Love.
She also has plenty of experience when it comes to critiquing dance routines as she was a judge for two series on Dancing on Ice.
But one thing Ashley, who was runner-up on I’m A Celebrity in 2012, won’t have to worry about is the Strictly curse. She has previously been linked to Love Island’s Eyal Booker, but is currently single.
This Morning’s Dr Ranj Singh has also signed up to the show, it was revealed yesterday.
He will be hoping to take home 10s from head judge Shirley Ballas as well as Craig Revel Horwood, Darcey Bussell and Bruno Tonioli when the show returns in the autumn.
Famous for sharing his medical advice on the ITV sofa, he will swap his stethoscope for sequins and is hoping to get pulses racing as he follows in the footsteps of This Morning’s Ruth Langsford on the Saturday night show.
The 38-year-old doctor rose to fame on CBeebies and was branded “the modest hero” by ITV after parents revealed his advice had saved the lives of many children.
An insider said: “He’s a housewives’ favourite on ITV daytime – so he’s sure to have big support when he takes to the dancefloor.”
The BBC said they did not comment on speculation, adding the line-up would be confirmed soon. ADVICE Dr Ranj and Vanessa Feltz on This Morning GIRLBAND Roberts, centre, and Scherzinger in the Pussycat Dolls LIFESAVER Singh is CBeebies star