Who is Hardeep Singh Kohli? Evicted Celebrity Big Brother 2018 star, former One Show host and SNP member

HARDEEP Singh Kohli was the BBC's rising star whose career came crashing down less than a decade ago amid allegations of sexual harassment.

The Sikh comedian has found it difficult to find TV work since then, but he just had a shot of redemption on Celebrity Big Brother. Here's all you need to know...

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Who is Hardeep Singh Kohli?

Hardeep Singh Kohli was born January 21, 1969, in London but he moved to Glasgow, Scotland when he was four.

The 49-year-old joined BBC Scotland's graduate production trainee scheme and became the director of BAFTA-winning children's show It'll Never Work.

In 2004, he starred in Channel 4's Meet the Magoons and he reached the final of Celebrity MasterChef in 2006, which soon led to presenting New British Kitchen with John Torode.

Other TV appearances include a celebrity edition of The Apprentice, The Wright Stuff, and he also hosted CBBC game show Get 100.

Hardeep has two children with ex-wife Sharmilla Kohli, whom he divorced the same year he was suspended by the BBC.

When was he on Celebrity Big Brother?

Hardeep entered the Celebrity Big Brother house in August 2018.

He was evicted after going up against psychic Sally Morgan in the live vote.

There's no denying this year's show has been somewhat tumultuous - with Human Ken Doll Rodrigo Alves using the N-word on the show before being booted out over his controversial actions, and Roxanne Pallett sensationally claiming Ryan Thomas had "punched"; her.

In an exclusive interview with The Sun Online, Hardeep slammed Roxanne Pallett's behaviour as "vindictive" and backed Ryan Thomas to win.

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What were the sexual harassment claims?

While working as a reporter for The One Show in 2009, Hardeep was suspended for six months amidst allegations of sexual harassment of a researcher and his contract was never renewed.

A spokeswoman for the BBC said at the time: “Producers of The One Show received a complaint regarding Hardeep's behaviour towards a production colleague.

“She made no formal complaint and has acknowledged that One Show management took the issue extremely seriously.

“He was reprimanded and immediately apologised. He agreed to take some time away from the show to reflect on his behaviour. This leave of absence has been agreed to be six months.”

However, the comedian denied he had been accused of sexual assault but conceded he had “overstepped the mark”.

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