ITV is making an in-depth documentary looking at the sex crimes linked to Seventies pop band the Bay City Rollers.
It’s a subject that will resonate with its host, Nicky Campbell, as last year he revealed he had been the victim of sexual abuse in his home city of Edinburgh 50 years ago.
The band, who also hailed from the Scottish capital, are among the best-selling pop acts ever.
But at the height of their fame their manager Tam Paton sexually targeted a string of young men and boys, and in 2003 he was accused of having tried to rape guitarist Pat McGlynn in 1977.
Police decided there was not enough evidence for a prosecution.
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A TV insider said: “This is a reassessment of the sex crimes that surrounded the group and the climate that existed at the time that allowed the abuse to take place, largely unchecked.
“It will use the painful recollections from people who were around at the time, as well as victims of the abuse.
“Nicky is the perfect host for the documentary as he can fully sympathise with what these individuals went through, and he knows how different society was when he was a teenager in the Seventies."
Famous for wearing too-short tartan-trimmed trousers, the group were heralded as the biggest band since The Beatles.
They sold 120 million records and attracted global hordes of young female fans in a phenomenon dubbed Rollermania.
The new programme, which is set to air this year, is said to show how behind the scenes an endless stream of young groupies who used to follow the group around led to exploitation.
In 1982 Paton was convicted of gross indecency with two teenage boys at a time when the legal age of consent for gay male sex was 21.
He was released after serving one year of a three-year jail sentence.
Then in 2003 he was accused of a string of sex abuse crimes but was cleared of them all. He died in 2009.
Now it is hoped the new documentary will shine a fresh light on all the testimony and facts.
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SECOND HOST GIG FOR OTI
OTI MABUSE’s debut presenting gig on ITV may have flopped, but bosses aren’t quitting on her yet.
The former Strictly star has a new Saturday morning chat show where she will be grilling celebrity guests.
The as-yet-untitled series will also air on Sundays, with Love Island’s Laura Whitmore hosting.
The new show comes seven months after I revealed Oti’s dating show Romeo And Duet, which was screened last April, was being axed after just one series.
A TV insider said: “Oti is still considered one of ITV’s golden girls and bosses are delighted with her as a judge on Dancing On Ice, so they’re sure she’ll be a hit.”
Meanwhile, Katie Piper is back with her Breakfast Show on Sunday mornings.
Both series are set to air this spring on ITV1 and ITVX.
LOVE ISLE ‘BULLYING’
LOVE Island viewers have voiced their anger to Ofcom over the treatment of Zara Lackenby-Brown.
The telly watchdog says it received 197 complaints that “related to alleged bullying treatment of Zara”.
During a game of Truth Or Dare, islander Tom Clare who Zara was coupled with, said he preferred rival Olivia Hawkins’ face.
Then Aaron Waters and Lana Jenkins chimed in, upsetting Zara.
Meanwhile, two new male bombshells appeared last night.
Jordan Odofin says he’ll bring “London swagger” to the party, while Casey O’Gorman sees himself “kissing a lot of girls”.
DENIMA MCCALL
WEARING double denim is synonymous with being middle-aged, but Davina McCall is proving that neither has to be uncool.
The presenter didn’t just rock the jeans look yesterday, she’s also on the brink of hosting the new “Love Island for older singletons”.
She is tipped to be the frontrunner to present ITV’s upcoming show Romance Retreat, which helps to find new relationships for middle-aged contestants.
The only bad news is the producers seem to think this milestone period starts at 35 – that’s the minimum age they’re looking for among participants.
An insider said: “In terms of age range, the sort they are looking at is similar to other shows like Married at First Sight.”
On the last series of E4’s rival dating show, the average age was 33 and the youngest contestant was 26.
The source went on: “Producers are going for a similar vibe overall, just a bit older.
"Plenty of over thirties were auditioned for the main series, but they were considered just that bit too old for the normal Love Island.
“They still very much need to be good looking for Romance Retreat, but with more life experiences.”
Sounds just like me – shame I’m too young to apply
CELEBS’ SECOND HELPING
CELEBRITY Cooking School is set to get a second helping on E4.
The show, which saw famous faces put through their paces in the kitchen, will be back on our screens later this year.
The first series aired in 2022 and featured a line-up that included Kerry Katona, Melvin Odoom, Shaun Ryder and the winner, First Dates star Laura Tott.
All their culinary efforts were observed and judged by Michelin starred chef Giorgio Locatelli.
The line-up of celebrities for series two has yet to be confirmed, though I’m sure they will be of a similar stature to those in series one.
