Ed Westwick returns after sexual assault claims dismissed

Production on BBC comedy White Gold has resumed, Chortle can reveal, four months after sexual assault allegations against star Ed Westwick were dismissed.

The second series of the sitcom had begun filming in Spain before production was halted in November last year so Westwick could fight accusations of rape and sexual assault made by three women.

Production company Fudge Park have confirmed that Westwick, 31, is returning as dodgy double-glazing salesman Vincent Swan, alongside former Inbetweeners stars Joe Thomas and James Buckley.

 A spokesperson told Chortle: 'We can confirm we are recommencing production on series two of White Gold with our full cast returning to complete the series.’

Set in the 1980s, the  first series of the BBC Two show concluded with the corrupt Swan falling from grace, while the second moves abroad to include a timeshare scam, as well as delving deeper into Essex's criminal underworld.

The series is written by Inbetweeners co-creator Damon Beesley.

In July, the Los Angeles County District Attorney said the star, who shot to fame on Gossip Girl, would not be prosecuted over three allegations of sexual assault.

Two were dropped because of insufficient evidence, with the prosecutor saying the witnesses who made claims against Westwick ‘were not able to provide information that would enable the prosecution to prove either incident beyond a reasonable doubt’. And the DA could not make contact with the third person who made claims.

Following the allegations, the BBC also dropped Westwick from its adaptation of Agatha Christie's Ordeal By Innocence, which had been due to air last Christmas. It was subsequently reshot and broadcast in April with Christian Cooke replacing Westwick in the role of Mickey Argyll.

Westwick always denied the claims against him, which he said were ‘provably untrue’.

He wrote on Twitter at the time the allegations were made: ’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 that I have had anything to do with such vile and horrific conduct. 

‘I have absolutely not, and I am co-operating with the authorities so that they can clear my name as soon as possible.’

- by Jay Richardson

Published: 23 Nov 2018