Noel Clarke's Bulletproof Co-Star Ashley Walters Breaks Silence On Sexual Misconduct Allegations

Noel Clarke's Bulletproof co-star Ashley Walters has broken his silence after Clarke was accused of sexual misconduct by 20 women.

Clarke, who has vehemently denied these claims, faced a string of accusations last night after The Guardian newspaper published an exposé.

Sky)

In a statement posted to his Instagram page, Ashley, 38, wrote: "My thoughts are with the women who have come forward and told their awful stories.

"I am in shock and deeply saddened by what I have heard on a multitude of levels. I could never condone behaviour of this nature neither in nor out of the workplace, and whilst Noel has been a friend and colleague for several years, I cannot stand by and ignore these allegations.

"Sexual harassment, abuse and bullying have no place in our industry. Every woman has the right to a safe workplace and moving forward I pledge my dedication to this."

Instagram - ashleywalters)

It has since been confirmed by Sky, which broadcasts Bulletproof, that they had halted all work with Clarke after he was hit with the accusations.

A Sky spokesperson said: "Sky stands against all forms of sexual harassment and bullying and takes any allegations of this nature extremely seriously.

"Effective immediately, we have halted Noel Clarke's involvement in any future Sky productions."

Clarke has also been stripped of his BAFTA for Outstanding Contribution To British Film, which he was awarded earlier this month.

Sky)

"In light of the allegations of serious misconduct regarding Noel Clarke in The Guardian, BAFTA has taken the decision to suspend his membership and the Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema award immediately and until further notice," they confirmed in a statement.

Clarke has denied all claims put to him, apart from one where he said he had made inappropriate comments about one of his accusers.

He said in a statement: "In a 20-year career, I have put inclusivity and diversity at the forefront of my work and never had a complaint made against me. If anyone who has worked with me has ever felt uncomfortable or disrespected, I sincerely apologise.

"I vehemently deny any sexual misconduct or wrongdoing and intend to defend myself against these false allegations."

If you have been affected by the content in this article, please visit thesurvivorstrust.org for information and support.

Topics: Celebrity News, TV & Film, Sky

Kimberley Bond

Kim is a journalist at Tyla, and has previously worked at the Evening Standard, Radio Times as well as several national newspapers. A showbiz obsessive and a television fanatic, Kim is particularly interested in celebrity gossip, A-list events and the latest releases on either the big or small screen. Contact her at [email protected]

@0xKimberley