By Emily Goodin, senior US political reporter in Washington DC

Published: 4:33 PM EDT, March 22, 2024 | Updated: 11:34 PM EDT, March 22, 2024

Dan Schneider has defended his relationship with a teenage Amanda Bynes and revealed he supported her decision to pursue parental emancipation aged 16.

The producer, 58, who has faced numerous allegations of inappropriate behavior  on the set of children’s TV shows, spoke out in the wake of documentary Quiet On Set: The Dark Side Of Kids TV – which made shock claims about the ‘toxic environment’ at the network.

Schneider, who was disturbingly filmed in a hot tub with a then-16-year-old Bynes in 2002, said he helped Bynes after she ran away from home and was ‘concerned for her safety’ when she decided to leave her parents.

Speaking with former iCarly actor Bobby ‘BooG!e’ Bowman on his own YouTube account, Schneider said of Bynes’ decision: ‘She wanted that for herself. We supported her.  

‘Amanda was between the ages of 16 and 17 and she wanted to get emancipated from her parents, which was a fairly common thing with successful young actors — at least at the time.

‘She wanted that for herself, so she turned to her team, which included her lawyer, her agent, her manager, her publicist, me — because she included me as part of her team, thought of me that way. 

‘We supported her, she tried to get emancipated and it ended up not working out and she didn’t.’

Schneider claimed matters came to a head one night when Bynes called him following a row with her parents – which led him to call a person he trusted to take her to the police.

He said: ‘One night very late, well after midnight, 1 or 2 in the morning, phone rang, I answered, it was Amanda.

‘She was upset. She was in distress. She had had some conflict with her parents, I think her father, and she called me. I was immediately concerned about her safety. 

‘I called someone that I knew was fairly nearby. That person was able to go and pick her up. I knew she was safe, I felt better. She ended up being taken to the police.’

Bynes did pursue legal emancipation from her parents Lynn and Rick – but later withdrew the petition. 

The 19-minute video saw Schneider discuss Quiet On Set, released at the weekend, which he said had made him ‘face his past behaviors.’

Schneider admitted that had previously overstepped professional boundaries and conceded he owed ‘some people a pretty strong apology.’

Schneider, who was previously described as ‘Nickelodeon’s golden boy,’ began by addressing the furor head on as he explained: ‘Watching over the past two nights was very difficult. 

‘Me facing my past behaviors – some of which are embarrassing and that I regret. I definitely owe some people a pretty strong apology.’

Schneider, who began working at the network in 1993, is said to have ‘launched the careers of child actors who became major stars’ including Miranda Cosgrove, Jamie Lynn Spears and Ariana Grande.

But he was later flooded with allegations before being sued over accusations of gender discrimination, hostile work environment and harassment – many of which were divulged in the new documentary.

It wasted little time in dishing that the period of the 1990s and 2000s ‘marked one of the darkest chapters,’ writer Scaachi Koul said.

Christy Stratton and Jenny Kilgen were hired as co-writers for The Amanda Show and split a single salary – as the network got ‘two writers for the price of one.’

‘It was early on when we first started that Dan said he didn’t think women were funny,’ Christy said.

‘He had fostered this very casual, fun atmosphere but I felt that Dan could be very volatile and could turn any moment. I was scared.’

She said that staff were left feeling ‘paranoid and uncomfortable,’ concluding: ‘Working for Dan was like being in an abusive relationship.’

Jenny also dished on having a similar experience, sharing that he ‘didn’t really value women in the writers’ room.’

But that was not all because, dishing on the depths of the inappropriate behavior at the channel, she claimed: ‘Dan was showing pornography on his computer screen. He asked me several time to massage him in the writers’ room and in the studio…

‘You always felt like disagreeing with Dan or standing up for yourself could result in getting fired. 

‘One of the worst, we were in the writers’ room and Christy was talking about high school which is relevant because we are writing for a young girl. 

‘And Dan just said: “You know what would be funny? If you leaned over the table and acted like you were being sodomized and told that story about high school.”‘

Jenny said that Christy had initially said no but Dan kept insisting and ‘she couldn’t get out of it.’

‘So she just leaned over the table and did what he asked her to do. It was upsetting to watch because I knew Christy at this point and I didn’t feel at all comfortable complaining to him.’

She concluded: ‘It was probably the wrongest thing I have ever seen happen to a woman in a professional environment ever.’

Christy herself declined to talk about the incident but remarked that she felt sorry for her former self as she was just a young woman at the time. 

Ultimately, after quitting her role at the network, Jenny decided to sue Dan because she ‘didn’t want it to happen to other women in the future.’

‘I hired a lawyer and started blowing whistles. My lawyer filed complaints against the production company for gender discrimination, hostile work environment, harassment – and in response they did an internal investigation and they settled.

‘But it had a lasting impact on my career… To learn that it didn’t stop and that it was all for nothing.’

Former assistant Amy Berg also took to X, formerly Twitter, in recent days to slam Schneider as a ‘f***ing a**hole.’

She branded him as a ‘psychological tormenter’ and a ‘manipulator’ before claiming his treatment caused her to suffer panic attacks, anxiety, and develop a ‘heart arrhythmia.’

Addressing the widespread reports of inappropriate behavior in the writers’ room, Schneider said: ‘Let me just say no writer should ever feel uncomfortable in any writers’ room. Ever. Period. The End. No excuses.

‘Most TV writers comedy writers have been in writer rooms and they are aware that a lot of times there a re inappropriate jokes made and inappropriate topics come up.

‘But the fact that I participated in that e specially when I was leading the room embarrasses me. I shouldn’t have d one it.’

He continued: ‘I can tell you why it hurts really bad for me. I remember very clearly my first experiences in the entertainment business.

‘I was green, I was scared, I was excited – it meant the world to me that I was getting those opportunities and I went in and I got lucky because they were great.

‘My first couple of experiences were fantastic and t he fact that I didn’t pay that forward to every employee that walked through my door it hurts my heart because I should have. I wish I could go back and fix that.’

Schneider conceded: ‘In the writers’ room there’s no doubt that sometimes those jokes went beyond t he pale and I said things that went too far or made practical jokes that went too far.

‘That was wrong and that was because I was an inexperienced producer. I was immature – it wouldn’t happen today but I’m just really sorry it happened.’

Elsewhere, he also apologized for his frequent requests for massages from female members of staff while in the studio.

‘It was wrong. It was wrong that I ever put anyone in that position. It was wrong to do. I’d never do it today. I’m embarrassed that I did it then. I apologize to anybody that I ever put in that situation,’ Schneider said.

‘Additionally, I apologize to the people who were walking around because there were lots of people who witnessed it who also may have felt uncomfortable so I owe them an apology as well.’

BooG!E urged Schneider to directly address the people who did not have a good experience working for him as he dished: ‘I hate that anybody worked for me and didn’t have a good time… I would let the pressure of doing 40 or even more episodes per year get to me – which a good boss should never, ever do…

‘I would snap at people sometimes, I would be snarky when I could have given them a nicer answer, I would not give people the time that they needed, I would be in too big a hurry to get on to the next thing I had to do.

‘Watching [Quiet On Set], there were so many times I wanted to pick up a phone and call some of those people and say “I’m so sorry and let’s talk about it and I wish you had a better time and I wish I could have shown you a better experience.”‘

The documentary had also explained that Nickelodeon had raised eyebrows under Schneider’s leadership with some of its shows that were ‘full of uncomfortable sketches.’

Among them were ‘disturbing’ scenes that ‘sexualized’ child stars – including Ariana Grande who featured in scenes sticking her hand down her throat, putting her toes in her mouth, and talking about being ‘soaking wet’ at the age of 16.

Other parts also showed Ariana trying to get juice from a potato – which involved her squeezing it as hard as possible and letting out loud moaning noises – and attempting to drink water upside down in a provocative position – which resulted in it spilling all over her head and chest. 

‘It was clear that there was a permissibility around these sexualized jokes with children,’ commentators in the documentary shared.

Responding to the criticism, Schneider said: ‘All these jokes that you’re speaking of… every one of those jokes was written for a kid audience because kids thought they were funny – and only funny.

‘Now we have some adults looking back at them 20 years later through their lens and they’re looking at them and they’re saying “oh you know I don’t think that’s appropriate for for a kid show.” 

‘I have no problem with that if that’s how anyone feels then let’s cut those jokes out of the show.

‘I want my shows to be popular… so if there’s anything in a show that needs to be cut because it’s upsetting somebody let’s cut it.

‘The last thing I want to ever do is put any content in a show that’s going to upset my audience and make them want to turn off the TV. Why would I ever want to do that?  That makes no sense.’

Schneider also insisted that there were ‘many, many levels of scrutiny’ at every stage to get a joke approved and also denied that he had ever been banned from his own set – branding it as a ‘false rumor.’

In recent days, a resurfaced clip being circulated online shows Schneider in a hot tub with an underage Amanda Bynes during a Nickelodeon sketch.

The scene in question – which is understood to have been filmed in 2002, when Bynes was around the age of 16 – shows Schneider sitting next to a bikini-clad Bynes for the skit, which he wrote himself, with commentators branding it as ‘very uncomfortable.’

But Schneider, who is 20 years Bynes’ senior, defended his friendship with the child star and said he had only been trying to help her ‘regardless of what some people may think.’

It was also revealed in the Quiet On Set expose that three members of Nickelodeon staff were charged over child sex abuse to varying degrees – as Drake Bell spoke for the first time about being abused by dialogue coach Brian Peck who was described as ‘very much one of the cogs in the Dan Schneider machine.’ 

But, in his new interview, Schneider was quick to distance himself from the predators and stated that he had not been responsible for hiring Peck.

He added: ‘When Drake and I talked and he told me what had happened I was more devastated by that than anything that ever happened to me in my career thus far.

‘I told him “I’m here for you, what do you need” which Drake mentioned in the show.’

Schneider went one step further by slamming the famous faces who had continued to show their support to Peck even after the charges came to light – sitting on his side in court and writing letters of support during sentencing.

He fleetingly broke down in tears as he said that Drake’s mom, who he is still in contact with now, had gone to him for advice in writing her speech for the judge at the time.

‘That was probably the darkest part of my career,’ he said.

Schneider began wrapping up by admitting that there are ‘definitely’ things that he would do differently.

‘One that I think would be really, really important is when you’re hiring young actors – minors – to work in television I would suggest that we have a licensed therapist there to oversee that process for the specific reason of making sure that those kids really wanted to do this job – that they really wanted to be on television.

‘Maybe they should even be informed about what that means – what’s it going to mean if you’re famous, what’s that going to mean on social media, what’s it going to mean within your family. Let them find out.

‘That way if a kid doesn’t want to be on a TV show they can opt out.’

He continued: ‘Additionally, the main thing that I would change is how I treat people. I definitely at times didn’t give people the best of me.

‘I didn’t show enough patience. I could be cocky and definitely overambitious and sometimes just straight up rude and obnoxious. I am so sorry that I ever was.’

He concluded: ‘When I watched the show I could see the hurt in some people’s eyes and it made me feel awful and regretful and sorry.

‘I wish I could go back – especially to those earlier years of my career and bring the growth and the experience that I have now and just do a better job and never, ever feel like it was okay to be an a**hole to anyone ever.

‘I wanted to make funny TV shows for kids and we definitely did that but if I could go back I would get it done in different ways. I would just be nicer as often as possible and listen more to the people on my team.

‘I would do everything that I could to make sure that everyone had a good experience.’

Schneider left Nickelodeon in 2018 and said at the time he was parting ways to pursue ‘other opportunities and projects.

Sister women star Christine Brown spoke tearfully about her continued social media presence in the wake of Garrison Brown‘s death.

Two weeks later Janelle And Kody Brown‘s son died at the age of 25, Christine, 51, opened up about how she deals with her grief. “I have to keep working because it’s what I understand, it’s what I know. It’s what I know I have to do,” she explained in an emotional Instagram video on Wednesday, March 20, adding that posting to social media is sometimes part of her job.

Christine acknowledged that not all of the responses she received were negative. “To those of you who understood that this is exactly what I need to do to keep moving forward, thank you so much,” she said. ‘It’s terrible to lose your son. Horrible.”

Christine emphasized that the Brown family would miss Garrison “all the time, every day, for the rest of our lives,” adding that getting back to some normalcy hasn’t been easy.

“We have to keep moving forward,” she said. “Because otherwise I would just want to stay in bed all day.”

She thanked fans for their condolences since Garrison’s death. “All the love and support we have received from people means so much. Thank you from the bottom of my heart,” she continued. “Please, start reaching out to people you love and let them know. If you want to call someone, you have to call him or her. Just reach out and get on with it. Thank you so much.”

In the caption of her video, Christine added the hashtags: “#grieving #gottakeepgoing #thankyou #misshimsomuch.” Responses to the post were limited.

We weekly confirmed Garrison’s death on March 5. Police arrived at his home in Flagstaff, Arizona, where Garrison was discovered with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Foul play was not suspected and the death was investigated as an apparent suicide.

Kody, 55, spoke about the family’s loss via Instagram that same day. “Janelle and I are deeply saddened to announce the loss of our beautiful boy Robert Garrison Brown,” he said. “He was a light in the lives of everyone who knew him. Our loss will leave such a big hole in our lives that it will take our breath away. We ask that you respect our privacy and join us in honoring his memory.”

Janelle, who split from Kody in 2022, issued a nearly identical statement. Garrison was one of the former couple’s six children Logan29, Maddy28, Hunter26, Gabriel21, and Savannah18.

Before Garrison was laid to rest on March 9, Christine and several other members of the plural family honored him with heartfelt messages.

“Garrison was a wonderful, caring brother who understood [my daughter] Truely needed a hobby and built her a flower bed,” Christine wrote on March 7 in a tribute on Instagram. “We will miss him forever. #gratitude #missyou #loveyou #tellthoseyoulovethatyoulovethem.”

His sister Maddie later revealed that mental health played a role in Garrison’s death, as she described the lessons she has learned since losing her younger sibling.

“Mental health is so important,” she said in an Instagram video on Monday, March 18. “And I don’t think we talk about it enough. I don’t think we’re doing enough to raise awareness. It wasn’t bullying, it wasn’t a lack of love that Garrison had. It was mental health. And I’m going to continue talking about mental health and self-care until I’m blue in the face because I don’t think it’s talked about enough in a way that people understand.

Along with Janelle, Kody previously had spiritual connections with Christine and Meri Brown. He remains legally married to the fourth wife Robin Brown.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat with 988lifeline.org.

Donald Trump sees no problem with it Princess Kate Middleton editing a Mother’s Day portrait of herself and her children.

“That shouldn’t be a problem because everyone is doctors. You look at these movie actors and you see a movie actor and you meet him, and you say, ‘Is that the same person in the picture?’” Trump, 77, said during an interview on Tuesday, March 19, with the British television channel GB News. “And I actually looked at that, and it was a very small doctor. I don’t understand why there is such an outcry about this.”

The former president continued: “It’s a tough time, you know, they really went after her.”

The controversy began earlier this month when multiple news outlets received notice to remove a photo of Kate, 42, posing with Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5, because it appeared to have been ‘doctored’ by the source.

Kate then addressed the drama via X.

“Like many amateur photographers, I occasionally experiment with editing,” her March 11 statement began. “I wanted to apologize for any confusion the family photo we shared yesterday caused. I hope everyone who celebrated had a happy Mother’s Day.”

The portrait remains on Kate and Prince William‘s official Instagram page, although Instagram has posted a warning message at the bottom of the photo.

“Altered/Photo Video,” the warning reads, adding that “independent fact-checkers say the photo or image has been edited in a way that could mislead people, but not because it was shown out of context.”

The botched editing sparked conspiracy theories about Kate’s health and whereabouts as she recovers from abdominal surgery. Kensington Palace announced in January that the Princess of Wales had undergone “planned” abdominal surgery and would not resume her public duties until after Easter. Kate was seen smiling during an outing with William, 41, on Sunday, March 17.

However, the sighting wasn’t enough to convince some people that all is well with Kate and William.

“That’s not Kate…” Andy Cohen wrote via

While Trump is not impressed that Kate is engaging in photo editing, he did say during his appearance on GB News that “appropriate action” will have to be taken if Prince Harry lied about his history of drug use when applying for a US visa. (The Heritage Foundation last year sued the Department of Homeland Security for access to Harry’s immigration records after the prince admitted in his memoir to drug use, Reserve.)

When GB News hosts Nigel Farage Asked whether the consequences for Harry, 39, could include deportation from the United States, Trump replied: “Oh, I don’t know. You’ll have to tell me. You just have to tell me.”

Kyle Sandilands has jumped to Holly Valance’s defense after the former Neighbors star accused Australia of being too ‘woke’.

Speaking on Monday morning’s Kyle and Jackie O Show, the shock jock, 52, agreed with the actress.

“The people in charge are all woke, so all their stupid rules are for the benefit of everyone,” he said.

‘Everyone needs to be taken care of.’

The comments come after Holly Candy, known professionally as Holly Valance, took a stunning swipe at climate activist Greta Thunberg in an interview with GB News’ Chopper’s Political Podcast.

Valance, 40, a former pop star and Neighbors actress who recently rebranded herself as a conservative commentator, didn’t mince her words when she revealed her thoughts on Swedish-born Thunberg, 21.

The Australian star told podcast host Christopher Hope: ‘I don’t understand why you have this demonic little gremlin, high priestess of climatism, as the goddess in the classrooms, Greta [Thunberg].

‘All the children all come home with depression and anxiety.

“Why would you go to your music class, do your homework, or get out of bed if you think we’ll all be dead in five years anyway?”

The mother of two also stated that she has no plans to move back to her Australian homeland, lamenting that the country is becoming too ‘woke’.

‘The Australia I grew up in was surreal. It was so much fun and we didn’t seem to have all these problems… the woke thing has really become big in Australia,” she said.

Holly elaborated on the ‘woke culture’, pointing to ‘the things they learn in school’: ‘I don’t think sexuality and children should be in the same sentence. I don’t think anyone’s sexuality is anyone’s business. You don’t know anything about mine. I don’t know about you. Why should we?’

Valance, married to billionaire property developer Nick Candy, was born in Australia but has British citizenship through her British mother. She lives in London and the Cotswolds.

Holly also took the opportunity to attack ‘nanny state’ Victoria, explaining that she still gets fines every few months for not voting.

“The government will fine you for breathing,” she joked.

She also firmly ruled out a return to Australia if Labor won the upcoming British election.

“The plan would be to stay and live what we love, which is here, I’m very patriotic for this place. My mother is from Southampton. My whole family is English,” she said.

‘I don’t want to go anywhere. And Nick doesn’t want to go anywhere. We prefer to be in our country.’

In 2012, Holly married Nick in Beverly Hills and they welcomed two daughters together in 2013 and 2017, Luka Violet Toni and Nova Skye Coco respectively.

The couple enjoy a lavish lifestyle and previously lived in a two-storey Hyde Park penthouse worth $340 million, making it Britain’s most expensive flat.

Nick and Holly have since downsized to an $18 million mansion in the Cotswolds, which they are currently renovating.

In 2020, Nick gifted Holly a superyacht worth $50 million, despite the mother-of-two suffering from seasickness.

Whoopi Goldberg gives Princess Kate Middleton the benefit of the doubt after she posted an edited Mother’s Day family photo.

“I’m sorry, I know very few people who don’t manipulate their own photos,” Goldberg, 68, said in the Monday, March 11 episode The view. “I mean, all you have to do is swipe.”

She continued, “You know what, I have to tell you. She could be the future queen, [but] she is still an amateur photographer. That’s what they do!”

Over the weekend, multiple news outlets were reportedly notified to remove the photo, which was shared by Prince William and his wife on Sunday, March 10. The photo showed Middleton, 42, sitting with her and William’s three children: Prince George10, Princess Charlotte8, and Prince Louis5.

After speculation arose that her family’s Mother’s Day portrait had been doctored, Middleton issued a public statement about the viral photo.

“Like many amateur photographers, I occasionally experiment with editing,” reads a post shared via the official Prince and Princess of Wales X account on Monday. “I wanted to apologize for any confusion the family photo we shared yesterday caused. I hope everyone who celebrated had a happy Mother’s Day.”

The photo controversy comes after Middleton underwent abdominal surgery earlier this year.

While Kensington Palace announced on January 17 that her procedure was “successful” and that she was “unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter”, questions remained about her whereabouts.

Her representative tried to quash any speculation when she released a statement on February 29 saying: ‘Kensington Palace made the timelines of the Princess’ recovery clear in January and we would only provide important updates. That leadership remains in place.”

While Goldberg defended Middleton’s latest actions, other cohosts of The view said they still have questions about the member of the royal family after her surgery.

“She stepped in because there are very genuine concerns about her well-being,” Alyssa Farah Griffin argued. “I don’t want to speculate, but when you put something out that doesn’t meet the editorial standards of Reuters or the Associated Press, it fuels the fire of conspiracies. I think even if she’s recovering, she just needs to make a video.”

However, Goldberg disagreed, saying Middleton is under no obligation to keep royal guards informed of every step of her recovery.

“I know this will shock you all, but I have been on the cover of magazines with no lines on my face, with a lighter tan,” she explained. “I’ve seen pictures that people take and I end up with a donkey’s nose on my face. People can do whatever they want with photos – this shouldn’t come as a shock.”

Cohost Ana Navarro has chosen to inject some humor into the discussion by stating that the alleged act does not deserve that much attention.

“Listen, if photo manipulation was a crime,” she told the audience, “the Kardashians, my best friend and I would be in jail for the rest of our lives.”

The view airs on ABC weekdays at 11 a.m. ET.

By Will Griffee

Published: 8:10 PM EST, March 9, 2024 | Updated: 9:30 PM EST, March 9, 2024

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The Princess of Wales’ uncle Gary Goldsmith has criticized Prince Harry for throwing the royal family ‘under the bus’ – defending Kate against claims she was the ‘royal racist’.

Mr Goldsmith, who entered the Celebrity Big Brother house as a contestant tonight, described his royal niece as ‘beautiful’ and branded the racism claims against her as ‘bull****’.

In an interview with The sunMr Goldsmith said: ‘She is beautiful on the outside but even more beautiful on the inside and is a truly loving mother.

‘That’s why I got so angry with Harry and Meghan, because you don’t put a stick in the spoke and you don’t reinvent history.

‘I got quite angry when they attacked my beautiful niece, who couldn’t say anything for herself.’

Mr Goldsmith’s comments come after Kate and King Charles were identified by author Omid Scobie as the ones who allegedly asked Meghan and Harry what color Archie’s skin might be before he was born.

“It’s absolute nonsense and I couldn’t hide my feelings very well when I was given the opportunity to say something,” Mr Goldsmith said. “Kate is 100 percent not racist.”

Mr Goldsmith’s appearance on CBB is described as the ‘last’ [Kate] needs’ as her recovery continues, a royal expert said today.

Mr Goldsmith, the outspoken brother of Kate’s mother Carole Middleton, entered the house this evening as the ITV reboot of the reality TV show begins.

Kate’s uncle said she was able to watch ITV’s Celebrity Big Brother from ‘behind a sofa’ when he entered the house.

Host AJ Odudu asked him: “The nation needs to know: will Kate be watching?”

He said, “If so, it’ll be behind a couch, I think.”

On a videotape broadcast before he entered the house, Goldsmith said, “She’s just perfect.”

‘The first time I met William, Catherine was cooking and William said, ‘Hello, would you like a cup of tea?’ Very normal.’

Royal commentator Phil Dampier said that although the 58-year-old businessman is likely to enter the house “determined to only say nice things” about Kate and William, “after a few days his tongue may loosen up a bit and he may say things that he later regret it’. .

Kate is away from official royal engagements until after Easter following major surgery in January, with Kensington Palace insisting last week that she was still ‘doing well’.

She has not been seen at royal events since attending church at Sandringham with William and their children George, Charlotte and Louis on Christmas Day.

But a reality TV appearance for the ‘black sheep’ Mr. Goldsmith is set to cause headaches for the royal family amid speculation about Kate as she recovers from abdominal surgery.

Mr Goldsmith reportedly tried to land a spot on ITV’s I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here last year but was rejected because he feared it would embarrass his niece.

He is said to have told friends he won’t do anything to hurt Kate or William, but he has previously attacked Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, which is why they could now be in the line of fire.

And Mr Dampier told MailOnline today: ‘The last thing the Princess of Wales needs right now is her uncle talking about her on Celebrity Big Brother.

‘And I’m not surprised by the reports that her mother Carole is not happy about her brother being in the house.

“I’m sure he’ll go there determined to say nothing but nice things about her and William, as he has done in the past. And he probably plans to criticize Harry and Meghan if he gets the chance.

‘But after a few days his tongue may loosen and he may say things he later regrets.’

The commentator also warned that ‘any indication about Kate’s medical condition will not end well for her or William’, adding: ‘I’m sure Gary wants to support his family but giving them more publicity isn’t what’s going on at the moment they want to. .’

Mr Dampier said it would be interesting to know whether Mr Goldsmith consulted Carole or Kate before deciding to enter the house, which “presumably he does for the money”.

And he continued: ‘He has embarrassed them in the past with his misdeeds at Maison de Bang Bang, but he has cleaned up his act in recent years and mainly stayed out of the spotlight.

‘Big Brother bosses will want him to spill the beans – why else would he be there? – but Kate and William will hope he manages to be sensible and focus on other housemates and their problems.’