[Red Moon]

TALENT STAR IS A PAEDO

A BRITAIN’S Got Talent star was booted off last night’s show when it was discovered he is on a sex offenders’ register.

Impressionist Richard Bates was due to appear in the semi finals mimicking ukulele legend George Formby and jazz superstar Louis Armstrong.

But hours before last night’s live programme – hosted by Ant and Dec, both 31 – he was dropped from the line-up.

Shocked producers were tipped off by police that Bates, 27, was on the sex offenders’ register following an indecent assault on a young boy in Manchester three years ago.

A policeman had spotted him on the auditions footage screened earlier in the week and contacted ITV.

Telly chiefs called an emergency meeting with the Blackpool musician yesterday. He would have been sharing the stage with 10-year-old Jake Pratt.

At first Bates told pals he was withdrawing from the contest because he had fractured a bone in his hand during rehearsals – claiming his organ stand collapsed on it. But last night Bates, who has been gigging in pubs for the past 12 years, admitted: “I cannot hide it. I am on the register.”

A spokesman for Lancashire Police said: “One of our officers contacted the programme as a result of seeing this man on television as we thought it prudent to do so.

“As a result of our calls it was agreed that he would no longer take part in the show.”

TV judge Simon Cowell, 47, never wanted Bates in the contest and said of his act: “That is the worst I have ever seen. It was torture.”

But former newspaper editor Piers Morgan, 42, pushed him through saying:

“You were brilliant. Do we inflict you on future audiences and also the Queen?

“Yes. You are through.”

Last night a Britain’s Got Talent spokeswoman admitted Bates had been pulled out of the show.

She said: “After the allegations came to light and having spoken to Richard about them, in consultation with us he chose to withdraw from competition.”

But a source said: “Richard would have been removed from the register in July.
“He always maintained that all he did was tickle a boy’s feet.

“He was never barred from going near kids. He is gutted his chance of stardom has been ruined.”

Source: Daily Star