Brian Dowling will be distraught...
The "comedian", who was due to appear as part of tonight's Celebrity Big Brother line up, has - as you may have heard - been arrested in "connection with Operation Yewtree", AKA the on-going Jimmy Savile sh*tstorm, which has also seen Max Clifford, DJ Dave Lee Travis, Freddie Starr, Gary Glitter and other luminaries of the 70s brought in for questioning. Unlike the others, Davidson has been accused of sexual offences involving two women who were in their mid-twenties at the time.
The Daily Mail reports: "Davidson had flown to London yesterday to give a series of interviews in advance of his appearance on Celebrity Big Brother on Channel 5. Last night it was understood that a replacement was being lined up to take his place on the show. Several plain-clothed police officers spent more than four hours searching Davidson's £1million Georgian home in the picturesque village of Stockbridge in Hampshire. They left the property at 7pm carrying boxes which appeared to contain plastic evidence bags and brown envelopes... Police also arrested a 53-year-old man at his home in Hampshire at 8am yesterday on suspicion of committing sexual offences."
Davidson's lawyer released the following statement: "Two women have made allegations in respect of Jim that date back approximately 25 years. The complainants were then in their mid 20s. Jim vigorously denies the allegations. He answered police questions as fully as he was able after this passage of time. He has not been charged with any offence. Neither he nor I will be making any further comment."
Like Paul Daniels, Davidson felt compelled to take to his blog regarding the Jimmy Savile accusations back in October, saying: "The Savile witch hunt is going a bit silly now. We all are starting to speculate and accuse... even in jest. So no, I don't know who's next. Everyone has had the nod. Everyone is an expert. Just pick someone you don't like and say it's them. As odd as he was, Savile can't defend himself. The bloke's dead for God's sake. Let's move on." Because it's that easy, Jim.
So now everyone's wondering who might replace Davidson in tonight's Channel 5 launch. If only Bernard Manning was still alive… Still, there's always Roy Chubby Brown.
Those also rumoured to be partaking in tonight's launch include this lot, and - if rumours are to be believed - Lindsay Lohan. And what makes these rumours different this time? Because she's been larking around London since New Year's Eve, hanging about with ex-boyfriend Josh Chunn (no idea either) in Knightsbridge and what not. Thing is, though, she has to be back in America by January 15th for yet another court appearance (unless she loses her passport like she did in France that time). That and she's already denied her involvement.