EastEnders star cut from Children in Need quiz after offending S Club 7 with anti-gay joke
EastEnders actor Shane Richie was reportedly cut from a Children in Need quiz last Friday after offending members of S Club 7 by making an anti-gay joke.
Waiting for people to enter the lift, Ritchie reportedly said: “Hurry up! Last person in is a gay!”
The three members of S Club 7 who were in the lift – Tina Barrett, Jo O’Meara and Hannah Spearritt – were not amused.
Jon Lee, one of the seven members’ of the ban, came out as gay to Gay Times (GT) in 2010.
A representative for S Club 7 told BBC bosses they weren’t prepared to take part in the Children in Need quiz alongside Ritchie, resulting in him being cut.
The Sun have reported a “source” close to Richie has confirmed he made the comment, but denied it was meant to be offensive.
The source said: “The comments were clearly meant as a joke.
“To suggest he intended any offence couldn’t be further from the truth.”
The BBC and Richie have refused to comment.
