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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Leslie's career in the spotlight | Leslie's career in the spotlight |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Leslie became a star after presenting Blue Peter | Leslie became a star after presenting Blue Peter |
| Former television presenter John Leslie, who has denied an allegation of rape against him dating back to 1995, has had a long and successful TV career. | Former television presenter John Leslie, who has denied an allegation of rape against him dating back to 1995, has had a long and successful TV career. |
| A former choirboy, nightclub DJ, children's TV presenter and tabloid favourite, John Leslie was a household name. | A former choirboy, nightclub DJ, children's TV presenter and tabloid favourite, John Leslie was a household name. |
| The tall Scotsman's enthusiasm and charm made him a natural performer on shows like Wheel of Fortune and Blue Peter, where he had to engage guests while entertaining viewers. | The tall Scotsman's enthusiasm and charm made him a natural performer on shows like Wheel of Fortune and Blue Peter, where he had to engage guests while entertaining viewers. |
| As well as being known for his TV shows, he has also been known for his social life, enjoying showbusiness parties and having relationships with actress Catherine Zeta Jones and former nurse Abi Titmuss. | As well as being known for his TV shows, he has also been known for his social life, enjoying showbusiness parties and having relationships with actress Catherine Zeta Jones and former nurse Abi Titmuss. |
| Born John Leslie Stott in Edinburgh in 1965, he was destined for a career in music technology until a television producer told him he would look great on screen. | Born John Leslie Stott in Edinburgh in 1965, he was destined for a career in music technology until a television producer told him he would look great on screen. |
| An encouraged Leslie (he dropped the Stott) proceeded to make a demo tape and sent it to every TV station in the country. | An encouraged Leslie (he dropped the Stott) proceeded to make a demo tape and sent it to every TV station in the country. |
| Leslie now lives in Edinburgh and is a property developer | Leslie now lives in Edinburgh and is a property developer |
| His first break came when Yorkshire TV gave him a job presenting a late-night show, The Music Box, but it ended in 1987 and he moved to London to pursue his career. | His first break came when Yorkshire TV gave him a job presenting a late-night show, The Music Box, but it ended in 1987 and he moved to London to pursue his career. |
| The move paid off two years later when he became the 18th presenter on long-running BBC children's show Blue Peter. | The move paid off two years later when he became the 18th presenter on long-running BBC children's show Blue Peter. |
| Suddenly, millions of children and parents knew who he was and he was seen taking part in the new adventure sport of bridge-swinging within days of joining the programme. | Suddenly, millions of children and parents knew who he was and he was seen taking part in the new adventure sport of bridge-swinging within days of joining the programme. |
| He presented the show for four years - and co-hosts included Anthea Turner, the late Caron Keating and Diane-Louise Jordan, among others. | He presented the show for four years - and co-hosts included Anthea Turner, the late Caron Keating and Diane-Louise Jordan, among others. |
| At the same time - unusually for a children's TV presenter - he was also appearing in newspaper showbiz columns due to his fun-loving lifestyle. | At the same time - unusually for a children's TV presenter - he was also appearing in newspaper showbiz columns due to his fun-loving lifestyle. |
| He said he started going to nightclubs and parties to combat loneliness when he first moved to London. | He said he started going to nightclubs and parties to combat loneliness when he first moved to London. |
| And when he was with Catherine Zeta Jones in her pre-Hollywood days, they were one of the hottest celebrity couples in the UK. | And when he was with Catherine Zeta Jones in her pre-Hollywood days, they were one of the hottest celebrity couples in the UK. |
| After leaving Blue Peter in 1994, he began his long association with ITV daytime show This Morning when he featured on the show as entertainment correspondent. | After leaving Blue Peter in 1994, he began his long association with ITV daytime show This Morning when he featured on the show as entertainment correspondent. |
| Leslie had a high profile relationship with glamour model Abi Titmuss | Leslie had a high profile relationship with glamour model Abi Titmuss |
| He also hosted an ITV sci-fi game show Scavengers, which was billed as the "toughest game show ever". | He also hosted an ITV sci-fi game show Scavengers, which was billed as the "toughest game show ever". |
| Other ventures included Entertainment Express with Selina Scott and the adults-only pub quiz Whose Round Is It Anyway? with Mandy Smith. | Other ventures included Entertainment Express with Selina Scott and the adults-only pub quiz Whose Round Is It Anyway? with Mandy Smith. |
| When comedian Bradley Walsh left prime-time ITV game show Wheel of Fortune to become a father in 1997, Leslie stepped in to become host and declared himself happy with the mainstream success. | When comedian Bradley Walsh left prime-time ITV game show Wheel of Fortune to become a father in 1997, Leslie stepped in to become host and declared himself happy with the mainstream success. |
| "It's not rock 'n' roll, but I've never been Mr Trendy," he said in 2001. | "It's not rock 'n' roll, but I've never been Mr Trendy," he said in 2001. |
| "I've no great desire to go off and do something wacky and cutting edge. Mainstream means longevity." | "I've no great desire to go off and do something wacky and cutting edge. Mainstream means longevity." |
| He calmed down since his party animal days, because he said, he was "very settled and fairly secure". | He calmed down since his party animal days, because he said, he was "very settled and fairly secure". |
| But if anything, he stepped up his TV commitments with prominent roles on reality show Survivor and makeover programme Style Challenge in the late 1990s. | But if anything, he stepped up his TV commitments with prominent roles on reality show Survivor and makeover programme Style Challenge in the late 1990s. |
| He became a regular presenter on Granada's This Morning in 1999, and took over full-time when hosts Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan left in 2001. | He became a regular presenter on Granada's This Morning in 1999, and took over full-time when hosts Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan left in 2001. |
| He also presented coverage of motor rallying | He also presented coverage of motor rallying |
| He and co-host Fern Britton struggled to fill Richard and Judy's shoes, however, attracting one million viewers per day - a million fewer than their predecessors. | He and co-host Fern Britton struggled to fill Richard and Judy's shoes, however, attracting one million viewers per day - a million fewer than their predecessors. |
| In 2002, Leslie became the subject of another rape claim made by fellow TV presenter Ulrika Jonsson in her autobiography. | In 2002, Leslie became the subject of another rape claim made by fellow TV presenter Ulrika Jonsson in her autobiography. |
| Although the star never named Leslie as her alleged attacker, his name was inadvertently given out by presenter Matthew Wright on Channel 5, now known as Five. | Although the star never named Leslie as her alleged attacker, his name was inadvertently given out by presenter Matthew Wright on Channel 5, now known as Five. |
| No charges were brought, but he was sacked as co-host of Granada's This Morning programme on ITV1 and replaced by Phillip Schofield. | |
| Bosses said Leslie had "failed to respond" to the allegations. | Bosses said Leslie had "failed to respond" to the allegations. |
| Later that year, he was accused of two counts of indecent assault against a 23-year-old actress dating to May 1997. | Later that year, he was accused of two counts of indecent assault against a 23-year-old actress dating to May 1997. |
| But the charges were dropped in 2003 and prosecutors said he was left "without a stain on his character from this investigation". | But the charges were dropped in 2003 and prosecutors said he was left "without a stain on his character from this investigation". |
| Leslie himself said he and his family "had been to hell and back" during the case. | Leslie himself said he and his family "had been to hell and back" during the case. |
| He has since maintained a fairly low profile - only appearing in the video for Bo' Selecta's Christmas 2003 single, Proper Crimbo, and a touring stage production of Pride and Prejudice in 2004. | He has since maintained a fairly low profile - only appearing in the video for Bo' Selecta's Christmas 2003 single, Proper Crimbo, and a touring stage production of Pride and Prejudice in 2004. |
| Leslie now lives in Scotland and works as a property developer. | Leslie now lives in Scotland and works as a property developer. |