Comic 'pestered' female colleague

Hardeep Singh Kohli has been suspended from The One Show for six months after a female colleague complained of his ‘inappropriate behaviour’.

The divorced comedian, who made the Channel 4 sitcom Meet the Magoons, has ‘apologised unreservedly’ for his behaviour and admitted he ‘overstepped the mark’.

Newspapers reported that the 39-year-old Glaswegian had been sexually pestering a female researcher, but in a statement he was keen to point out: ‘Nobody has accused me of sexual harassment.’

The BBC said: ‘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.’

Kohli's ban only applies to The One Show and not other BBC programmes.

His other credits include Famous, Rich and Homeless, about living on the streets of London, hosting CBBC game show Get 10 and the 2006 series of Celebrity Masterchef.

Meanwhile, Kohli will be making his Edinburgh stand-up debut next month, with the cookery-based show The Nearly Naked Chef.

It is the second scandal to hit The One Show after Carol Thatcher was sacked after using the term ‘gollywog’ off-air.

Published: 13 Jul 2009