UK police 'advised TV bosses over talent show sex offender'

Police urged TV producers to remove a contestant from a prime-time talent show because he is a sex offender, it has been confirmed.

Singing impressionist Richard Bates, 27, from Blackpool in England, was axed from ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent yesterday on advice from Lancashire Constabulary, the force said.

A spokesman would give no further details about Bates’ sexual offence conviction.

But he said: “There were concerns that with him being on the programme he might be seen by his victim or the victim’s family and there would be consequences from that.

“Lancashire Police spoke with the producers and suggested that it would not be in anyone’s interests for him to continue with the programme.”

Bates initially announced he quit the show because he injured his hand in an accident with his electric organ, but he later told The Mirror newspaper he left because he was on the sex offenders’ register.

A spokeswoman for the talent show confirmed that Mr Bates had agreed with producers to bow out of the competition.