A High Court judge in London has ruled that Boy George cannot participate in the final series of Celebrity Big Brother.

The star's legal team had been trying to lift a Probation Service ban on him appearing on the Channel 4 show.The 48-year-old singer - real name George O'Dowd - was released on licence from prison early from a 15-month custodial sentence for imprisoning a male escort.

Mr Justice Bean said the Probation Service was within its rights to refuse the star permission to appear. He added that for somebody who is out on licence the restrictions placed on their freedom are part of their punishment. "I consider that right-thinking members of the public would take the view that an offender serving the non-custodial part of a sentence of imprisonment should not be allowed to take part in a high profile, controversial television production, promoting his status as a celebrity and with considerable financial gain".

04/01/10