[Arneldo]

SHAMED Big Brother spitter Dennis McHugh was in hiding last night after C4 bosses BANISHED him and BANNED him from any further involvement with the show.

The man branded the most hateful housemate ever after he spat in Mohamed's face was forced to keep his mouth shut about the incident as Channel 4 refused him the chance to defend himself in any interview.

As Dennis fled back to Scotland, show makers Endemol became embroiled in fresh controversy when it emerged BB staff knew the gay dance teacher BEFORE he went on the show.

It has been claimed his close connections with creative directors Phil Edgar-Jones and Sharon Powers accounted for the 12-hour delay between the spitting incident and his removal from the house.

On Friday the powerful pair met privately with the unrepentant 23-year-old, whose removal is believed to have been ordered by Channel 4, rather than Endemol.

A Big Brother source revealed: "Dennis knows Phil and Sharon through his previous involvement on their shows. He was even a guinea pig for them in the BB house three years ago. Phil is from Scotland as well so there was some obvious sympathy there. Channel 4 is completely disgusted with his behaviour, but Phil and Sharon still insisted on going to see him on Friday."

Channel 4 yesterday confirmed Dennis was well known to senior BB staff.

"Dennis has auditioned for previous series of Big Brother and as such, will have come into contact with members of production," said a spokeswoman. She added: "All housemates speak with senior production staff upon leaving the Big Brother house."

Police yesterday quizzed Dennis under caution about the spitting incident. No action was taken, but they could press charges after speaking to Mohamed.

A Hertfordshire police spokeswoman said: "Officers will speak with the potential complainant as and when he leaves the house."

Channel 4 have totally disowned Dennis, even forcing him to leave London.

They have insisted he gives no interviews on his Big Brother experience and have vowed he will have no further association with the show, ruling out appearances on Big Brother's Little Brother or the reunion show at the end of the series.

A Channel 4 source said: "We don't want anything to do with him.He needs to be forgotten as soon as possible. It's not good for the show's reputation.

"We can't stop him coming out of the woodwork to do an interview in a few weeks, but it will be nothing to do with us.

"In our opinion he's the worst and most hateful housemate we've had and he'll be treated in that way." Even notorious show bullies Alexandra de Gale and Jade Goody were given the opportunity to speak to presenter Davina McCall after leaving.

But a show source said that, other than in the diary room on the afternoon of his axing, Dennis has expressed no remorse.

The insider said: "He watched the show last night and realised how appalling he looked, but did not say sorry again and doesn't want to.

"He wasn't crying, he wasn't upset, he just kept on acting like the vicious little queen that he is."

Dennis spat in Mohamed's face in the early hours of Friday during a row which erupted after housemates were plied with cider. He claims he made a spitting action but nothing came out of his mouth.

NOTW