Gary Goldsmith, Kate Middleton’s uncle, was virtually dumbfounded when Ed Balls questioned if he’d married four times because he ‘beat up’ his wife.
The businessman’s 2017 charge of assault by beating after he admitted to slamming his wife Julie-Ann Goldsmith to the ground in a drunken dispute came to light again when he joined the Celebrity Big Brother house.
ITV’s decision to include him in the lineup drew significant criticism, particularly from the charity Women’s Aid, which raised worry over the message it conveyed to survivors of domestic abuse.
Goldsmith, 58, was allegedly given the riot act by the Royal Family before to the reality programme. She lasted five days on Celebrity Big Brother before being removed as the first housemate.
He has subsequently kept a low profile, but he appeared on today’s (Monday, March 11) Good Morning Britain, when Balls, 57, challenged him about his criminal record.
Referring back to Goldsmith’s first introduction to Celebrity Big Brother, the former Labour politician said: ‘You said in the opening video: ‘I’m an absolute nightmare to live with. There is a reason I’ve had four wives.” Is the reason that you beat a wife up or is there another reason you were alluding to there?’
Looking taken aback, Goldsmith replied: ‘Wow, Ed. No. There was one thing that happened seven years ago. I’m not a serial wife-beater. But thanks for that.’
Balls’ GMB co-host Susanna Reid, 53, had also earlier asked Goldsmith about his assault conviction.
She said: ‘I want to take you back to something you said at the beginning of the interview and also in the house, and that is you wanted to change perceptions of yourself. Now you didn’t directly talk about that in the house, what that was about, but was that about your conviction for domestic assault?’
Letting out a squeal, Goldsmith replied: ‘There are lots of things that I’m regretful of. I try to live my best life but I fail consistently. That was a horrific episode.
‘There are two sides to every story but ours were never heard. It was considered by the judge that both my wife and I were intoxicated so they discounted everything we said and they only listened to a taxi driver who sold a story. It’s best in that position to put your hands up.
‘I’m far from innocent in that whole situation and I have regretted it for seven years. I’m trying to do everything I can day by day to be a better person. I love my wife dearly; we’re still very much in love. It was a very tough period of time and it wasn’t the best of me.’
In 2017, Goldsmith acknowledged to beating his wife after a drug-related quarrel after a night at a London exclusive club.
After being slapped, Goldsmith attacked his wife with a ‘left hook’, causing her to fall to the floor, slamming her head on the sidewalk and remaining unconscious for around 15 seconds before waking up.
In court, he later admitted one charge of assault by beating and was handed a 12-month community order with 20 rehab sessions to ensure ‘this sort of loutish behaviour does not reoccur.’
Goldsmith received a £5,000 fine, a £170 victim surcharge, and £85 in prosecution costs.
In 2009, a News of the World investigation revealed that he reportedly chopped up cocaine for a sex worker at his Ibiza house.
When Goldsmith was sent out of the Celebrity Big Brother house, he was booed by the live crowd but said he’d had the ‘greatest time’.
A Big Brother spokesperson said: ‘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.’
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV and ITVX.