Take Me Out contestant Aaron Withers 'punched woman in face' - Daily TV round-up

A contestant on last weekend's ‘Take Me Out’ was reportedly convicted of punching a woman before appearing on the ITV dating show.

Nearly seven million viewers watched Aaron Withers take part on Saturday's programme, which saw him bag a date with a pretty female contestant, even though The Sun claims he had beaten up a woman and her boyfriend in Somerset last summer.

Simon Edwards was allegedly hit with a pool cue by Withers and then his girlfriend Amy Kerr was thumped in the face after trying to intervene.

Withers pleaded guilty, was fined £200 and had to pay £50 compensation to both the victims.

He has also been exposed as a £50-an-hour escort after he appeared on the first episode of the new series of the show.

[See also: Classic 80's comedy set for remake]

Withers had advertised on a website called Platinum Select which features 5,000 escorts, with many offering ‘extras’.

Last night Withers said: “It seemed like easy money, just a bit of fun, I was really skint.”

Withers’ dodgy past is revealed just four months after another ITV bungle - when girlfriend beater Nathan Hageman won the £1 million jackpot on ‘Red Or Black’.

But an ITV spokesman blamed the show’s producer, Talkback Thames, for failing to find out these details.

Talkback Thames said: “We will review procedures.” [The Sun]

[Soaps news: Cleared Corrie star speaks out]

Also in today’s press

‘Strictly Come Dancing’ producer Richard Hopkins has died from cancer at the age of 47. Hopkins, who pitched and developed the concept for Strictly, was also involved in ‘Big Brother’, ‘The Big Breakfast’ and ‘Mastermind’ and acted as executive producer of ‘Dancing with the Stars’ in the USA. The BBC praised the revered producer, who passed away on Saturday, saying he was ‘one of the leading entertainment producers of his generation’. [Digital Spy]

Shamed shoplifting chef Antony Worrall Thompson has apologised for his stealing. The TV cook said he was sorry for his ‘stupid and irresponsible actions’ which saw him allegedly swipe cheese, wine and onions from a Tesco in Oxfordshire. He also said he had ‘let down’ his family and friends and would be seeking psychiatric help for what is believed to be kleptomania. [The Sun]