BIG Brother’s Lewis Flanagan was pictured throttling his co-star Isabella Farnese during a night out in London on Thursday.

However he has insisted the pictures, which left some onlookers stunned, was just them “messing around”.

6 Big Brother's Lewis Flanagan was grabbing his co-star Isabella Farnese by the throat - but he's insisted it was just a joke Credit: Brennan/Maggi

6 Onlookers told The Sun Online it was 'upsetting to watch' but the pair - who met on the Channel 5 show last month - said it was innocent Credit: Brennan/Maggi

Lewis, 27, admitted this week he was removed from the Channel 5 show for saying “kill the Jews”.

He had been lying low following his ejection from the house but headed to the capital to meet up with Isabella, 23, on Thursday.

The pair were then spotted standing outside their hotel before Lewis put his hands around Isabella's throat.

While one onlooker said Isabella looked “close to tears”, she now has shut down the claims to The Sun Online.

Big Brother's Lewis Flanagan insists he's not ashamed after being removed for using 'inappropriate language'

6 Isabella, 23, was seen lashing out at Lewis as they partied in London on Thursday night Credit: Brennan/Maggi

6 An eyewitness said the pair had a heated discussion before going into a hotel Credit: Brennan/Maggi

Isabella explained: “I met Lewis last night and he’s a gentlemen and completely respects me.

“We were messing around, having a laugh and those pictures are taken completely out of context.

“I’ll always remain close to him.

“I feel completely comfortable around him.”

Big Brother's Lewis Flanagan breaks silence for first time after being kicked out of the house

6 Lewis, who was booted out of the house for saying 'kill the Jews', smirked as Isabella talked to him Credit: Brennan/Maggi

6 In a statement Lewis told The Sun Online they were just 'messing around as friends' Credit: Brennan/Maggi

Lewis also laughed off the pictures and added: “We were having a great evening and just messing around as friends.

“We get on really well and I completely respect Isabella and she’s someone I am going to remain close to long after the Big Brother experience is over.”

Yesterday Lewis told The Sun Online he felt he’d lost everything after being kicked out of the show.

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He said he was broke and had been forced to move back to his mum’s house to “sleep in the spare room”.

Lewis also insisted the shocking comments he made being kicked out of Big Brother were not anti-Semitic but a “slip of the tongue”.

The former bartender issued a grovelling apology and said he hadn't meant any harm.

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