Paul O'Grady blasts phone-in scandal hosts
25 October 2007 - Paul O'Grady has suggested that presenters and producers implicated in TV phone-in scandals should quit.
His comments come after some popular chat shows, such as those hosted by Richard and Judy and Ant and Dec, were revealed to have deceived viewers over phone-in contests. However, both sets of presenters denied any knowledge of the deception.
O'Grady told the Sun that he would "probably leave" if his own show had been involved in a similar scandal.
"If your name is connected to a show but you don't know what's going on with it, you need to take more notice," he remarked.
"I think it's good this stuff has been exposed. If it wasn't for the viewers we wouldn't be here - and if they're being ripped off then it needs to stop."
Paul added that his show is planning to give any money earned from the popular Organ Game to charity.
The 52-year-old also suggested that some other recent additions to the TV chat show line-up may have borrowed some ideas from his own formula.
He said that he is not bothered when the likes of Antony Cotton and Alan Titchmarsh imitate aspects of his show, saying he is "flattered" but "not really interested in what's going on in other shows".
Paul has hosted a chat show for the past three years.
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