EastEnders star cut from Children in Need quiz after offending S Club 7 with anti-gay joke

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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.

 

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