On Friday, impressionist Richard Bates was removed from the contest after police contacted producers to tell them he was on the sex offenders' register.
ITV said Bates, who is due to be removed from the register next month, had agreed to step down from the show.
I don't know what to make of this, I didn't watch the show and I don't care very much, But I wonder whether the police did the right thing or not, in disclosing to the entire nation that he was on the Sex Offenders Register and that it was going to be annulled in a matter of days.
When I recall spectacles of police refusing to release photo's of escaped felons in case it breached their human rights, it seems to me to be a bit bizarre and vindictive.
A parallel might be an announcement in The Gazette whenever someone is released from prison just in case you may be interested, not recognising that the release signalled the completion of the penalty.
Guilty he may be, but the penalty imposed by society is not something an offender is responsible for. If it is not enough then that is our fault, not his.
In his case, the mud will stick for a very long time due to the exposure and it amounts to a sentence that will be stiffer than the original one.
I am doubtful that that can be a good thing.