Leslie to tell of 'year of hell'

Axed presenter John Leslie is to make his return to TV in a documentary about his “year of hell”, it was announced today.

Video diary footage shot as sex allegations against him were investigated by police will be used in the Sky One show, to be screened later this month.

Leslie was dropped from ITV1’s This Morning after a number of women made complaints, but he was cleared in July after the Crown Prosecution Service dropped charges.

At the time he tearfully told how he had been “taken to hell and back”.

In Sky One’s My Year of Hell, he describes the pressures he has been under in his first in-depth TV interview about the allegations.

The programme tells the story from Leslie’s point of view and includes interviews with his girlfriend Abi Titmuss, close pals, his family and legal team.

The former Blue Peter host also talks about his feelings towards Ulrika Jonsson, who originally spoke about an unnamed TV presenter who she said had raped her.

Chat show host Matthew Wright inadvertently linked Leslie to the allegation after blurting out his name during a live studio exchange on Channel 5.

His home video footage is seen for the first time, including his rehearsals for a speech prior to his court appearance.