Former Gossip Girl star Ed Westwick has officially been recast in the BBC drama Ordeal By Innocence as the actor currently faces three separate sexual assault allegations.

He will be replaced by Christian Cooke (The Promise, Cemetary Junction), with scenes to be reshot later this month.

The show was initially supposed to air over the Christmas on the British broadcaster but was pulled in November when the allegations against Westwick first emerged.

Westwick vehemently denied the accusations, saying in a statement on Twitter at the time (prior to the third allegation), "It is disheartening and sad to me that as a result of two unverified and provably untrue social media claims, there are some in this environment who could ever conclude I have had anything to do with such vile and horrific conduct.

"I have absolutely not, and I am cooperating with the authorities so that they can clear my name as soon as possible."

The Agatha Christie adaptation also stars Bill Nighy, Poldark's Eleanor Tomlinson, Star Trek Into Darkness's Alice Eve, Downton Abbey's Matthew Goode, Get Out's Catherine Keener, Fortitude's Luke Treadaway, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child's Anthony Boyle and Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children's Ella Purnell.

A new transmission date is set to be announced in due course.

 

Thank you @VanityFair for the piece on #OrdealByInnocence

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