Boy George philosophical after Big Brother failure

Boy George isn't upset about losing out on a potential £400,000 (€444,000) pay day.

The former Culture Club star unsuccessfully tried to lift a Probation Service ban on him appearing on Channel 4 reality show 'Celebrity Big Brother' but insists he isn’t bothered about missing out as there is "much more to life than money".

George – real name George O'Dowd – said: "'Celebrity Big Brother' would have been a good earner as I was being offered £400,000 and my ability to work has been restricted for the past two years, but other opportunities will arise."

The 48-year-old singer spoke out after a High Court judge upheld the ban imposed on George by probation chiefs during a hearing in London yesterday.

George was released on licence in May after serving four months of a 15-month sentence for false imprisonment of a male escort and attacking him with a chain in 2007.

The star's legal team said the decision to ban him was down to a fear of adverse media criticism.