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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Entertainment
Lisa McLoughlin

Kate Middleton's uncle Gary Goldsmith was 'read the riot act' over Celebrity Big Brother appearance

Gary Goldsmith, the uncle of the Princess of Wales, reportedly was “read the riot act” from the Middletons amid reports that he's joining Celebrity Big Brother.

The 58-year-old businessman is said to have upset his older sister Carole Middleton and her husband Michael amid rumours he will participate in the reality show which launches on Monday night.

In photos obtained by The Sun, Mr Goldsmith, previously dubbed as the "black sheep" of the family, was spotted arriving at the ITV studios in London on Sunday sporting a grey hoodie, leather jacket, and navy baseball cap.

His speculative stint on the show is raising eyebrows, especially since his niece is currently laying low after undergoing significant adominable surgery.

A source told the The Sun: “Gary said he’s been read the riot act by Kate’s mum Carole and her dad Michael - they aren’t happy he’s going into Celebrity Big Brother.

“It is infuriating for them. Kate doesn’t need this stress.”

Goldsmith pictured with his daughter Tallulah in 2017 (PA)

News of him joining the rebooted reality TV series first swirled back in Janaury.

Speaking to the outlet in January, Angela Levin, a royal author and biographer, said: “I think it’s cringe-making, very embarrassing, the trouble is he doesn’t like Harry and Meghan at all, some of this comments will fall onto Catherine and she’s had a lot against her, she’s not well.

“I think when you come out of an operation you’re quite vulnerable and this could upset her enormously.

“In principle people who don’t like her could say she encouraged him to do it, but she would have done nothing of the kind. It’s very embarrassing.”

Mr Goldsmith made £30 million from his own IT recruitment business but was hit by a scandal in 2009 when he was seen measuring cocaine with a sex worker in Ibiza.

He has been married four times and in 2017 he admitted punching his fourth wife Julie-Ann in the face after a night drinking at a charity event. He avoided jail but was fined.

Mr Goldsmith has been dubbed the “black sheep” of the family but has insisted: “People like to think I’m a bad boy. I’m not really.”

Despite his controversy, he has maintained links to the Middleton family and was a guest at the wedding of Kate to Prince William in 2011 and also when her sister Pippa Middleton wed James Matthews

It is thought Mr Goldsmith has strong opinions about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s US exodus which might make him “TV gold”, according to the unnamed Sun source.

Aside from Mr Goldsmith, Katie Price along with music managers Louis Walsh and Sharon Osbourne are reported to enter the ITV2 series. 

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