ITV breaks silence as domestic abuse charity blasts Gary Goldsmith's Big Brother stint after assault charge

Gary Goldsmith's inclusion in ITV's debut Celebrity Big Brother line-up has come under fire by a charity supporting domestic abuse survivors.

Women's Aid has publicly criticised ITV CBB producers for allowing Goldsmith to enter the house after he was given a 12-month community order for knocking his wife to the ground with a "left hook" in a drunken row.

Kate Middleton's uncle also faced 20 rehab sessions, was fined £5,000 and had to pay a £170 victim surcharge as well as £85 towards prosecution costs following his appearance at Westminster Magistrates' Court in late 2017.

Goldsmith admitted to one charge of assault by beating following the incident involving his wife Julie-Ann Goldsmith outside their Marylebone home.

The Celebrity Big Brother housemate hinted he had joined the show to repair his reputation in the public, claiming he wanted to "set the record straight" in his intro package.

But a Women's Aid spokeswoman has accused ITV of a "lack of awareness" by paying for Goldsmith to take part in the social experiment.

A statement from the charity reads: "The decision to include a man who has been charged and pleaded guilty to, assaulting his wife, in the Celebrity Big Brother house demonstrates the lack of awareness that the production team has when it comes to survivors of domestic abuse.

"The producers should consider how Gary Goldsmith’s appearance will impact women who have survived domestic abuse and how they will feel watching him on TV every night.

"At Women’s Aid, we would urge the producers to consider how they approach this, as for many survivors of abuse, the inclusion of men convicted of abuse in entertainment programmes will already be a sign that these crimes are not taken seriously.

"The entertainment industry has to consider the impact on women of who they give a platform to and derive entertainment value from," the spokeswoman added to Metro.

WATCH HERE: Gary Goldsmith enters the ITV CBB house

A Big Brother spokesperson has since told GB News in response to Women's Aid's statement: "All housemates undertake training in language and behaviour before entering the Big Brother house.

"All behaviour in the house is strictly monitored at all times."

ITV also provided a statement from Goldsmith regarding the charge: "I’m not perfect and I made a mistake, a personal row seven years ago which was publicly exposed that I've worked endlessly for seven years to put right.

"The offence is long since spent however my regret continues."

Goldsmith's participation in the first CBB since it arrived on ITV has also come under fire from fans who feel he doesn't warrant the tag of "celebrity".

He's also managed to irk a former Big Brother winner who's issued a warning about his antics in the house.

But there has been some positive feedback to Goldsmith's inclusion, with GB News's own Bev Turner offering some backing to the move.

Bev told the People's Channel's viewers: "I think that it is very humanising because Kate is not royal blood.

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"Everybody has got someone in their family who is a bit of a liability on Christmas Day and that is this guy, right?

"I don't think that it is a problem for them at all and when he said the first time that he met (Prince) William he asked him if he wants a cup of tea, I like that.

"They are normal even though they are different."

Goldsmith's chances of winning the series aren't looking favourable, however, with Kate's uncle currently priced as a 14/1 outsider.