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Fallen TV star John Leslie has broken his silence on the latest allegations of sexual assault he faces, insisting he is innocent.

The claims have already killed his planned comeback, forcing him to turn down a £500,000 offer to appear on Celebrity Big Brother.

The former Blue Peter star, 52, is ­accused of sexually assaulting a 26-year-old woman during a night out in Edinburgh in June.

But Mr Leslie told the Sunday People: “I totally deny the allegation that has been made. I have not done anything wrong.”

Police arrested Mr Leslie after ­questioning him and a woman at Atik nightclub, following allegations he touched her inappropriately while they were dancing.

But his solicitor – Mark Harrower of WSA, a major criminal law firm in Edinburgh – said evidence will soon clear the star’s name.

He said: “CCTV cameras captured the whole event and the footage has been submitted by us along with ­witness statements to the procurator fiscal for consideration.

“In my view it is entirely consistent with my client’s account of events.”

Police have also submitted a report of the alleged incident to Scotland’s prosecutors, who will decide what ­action to take.

But Mr Leslie will be rocked by the most recent allegations. A source close to him confirmed he had been planning to rekindle the TV career that waned in the wake of previous claims.

The source said: “This will come as a blow to John as his career has been plagued by unsubstantiated allegations. He was rebuilding his broadcast career on Radio Forth when a previous ­accusation came to light, leading to his suspension. He was hoping the time would be right to return to TV but when the offer to appear on Celebrity Big Brother was made he was already under investigation over the new claims.

“The offer was a lucrative one and also an opportunity for him to clear his name and to reconnect with the public. But it would have been unwise while this was hanging over him.”

Mr Leslie, who lives in Edinburgh, rose to fame in the late 1980s as the first Scot to host Blue Peter, before going on to present Wheel of Fortune and This Morning.

In October 2002, Ulrika Jonsson wrote in her autobiography, Honest, that “an acquaintance” had raped her when she was 19. Rumours circulated that the man was Mr Leslie, although Jonsson never confirmed it and he was never arrested or charged.

Shortly afterwards, other claims of indecent assault and rape emerged and he was arrested and bailed. But all charges were dropped in July 2003 ­after new information from the alleged victim. On the court steps after he was cleared, Mr Leslie said he had “been to hell and back” and he had “maintained his ­innocence throughout”.

His partner Abi Titmuss had stood by him through the ordeal but they split that year.

In November 2015, Mr Leslie was suspended from his job on Radio Forth while police investigated claims that he sexually assaulted a 22-year-old woman following a radio awards ceremony. Once again, the charges were dropped.

The most recent sexual assault ­allegation is said to have taken place on a VIP night to mark the re-opening of the Atik club, which recently appeared in the film T2 Trainspotting, after a £450,000 refurbishment.

A spokesman for Police Scotland said: “Police in Edinburgh have charged a 52-year-old man ­following a report that a 26-year-old woman was the victim of a sexual assault at a nightclub in the Tollcross area on Sunday 25 June.”

A spokesman for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service – Scotland’s equivalent of the Crown Prosecution Service – said: “The Procurator Fiscal has received a report concerning a 52-year-old male in connection with an alleged incident in Edinburgh. The report is currently under consideration.”