The BBC has replaced Ed Westwick in its big budget Agatha Christie drama, almost two months after the American actor was accused of sexual assault.
Producers will reshoot sections of the BBC1 programme Ordeal By Innocence with British star Christian Cooke.
The programme, which was due to be aired on Boxing Day, was pulled after leading man Ed Westwick was accused of raping two women and groping a third alleged victim.
Pictured: Ed Westwick (left) will be replaced by Christian Cooke (right) in the BBC’s adaptation of Agatha Christie’s Ordeal By Innocence
The Gossip Girl star has denied allegations.
Producers said British actor Cooke will replace Westwick in all of his scenes.
A statement said: ‘The co-producers of Ordeal By Innocence, Mammoth Screen and Agatha Christie Limited, today announced that they are to reshoot sections of the BBC1 drama later this month.
‘British actor Christian Cooke has been cast in the role of Mickey Argyll.’
In November American actresses Kristina Cohen and Aurelie Wynn claimed they were raped by Ed Westwick in 2014 in two separate incidents.
Cohen was the first to accuse Westwick. She wrote in a Facebook post that she went to his house in 2014 with producer Harling who she was dating at the time.
She said that after falling asleep in a bedroom at the house she woke up to find Westwick on top of her, and claims he proceeded to hold her down and rape her.
Cohen said she was encouraged to speak out three years after the alleged attack following the outpouring of stories this past month in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal.
Los Angeles Police Department launched an investigation into Cohen’s claim after she filed an official report on November 7.
Westwick has strongly denied the allegations and hasn’t spoken publicly since refuting them in a statement to Twitter.
Writing on November 7, he said: ‘I do not know this woman. I have never forced myself in any manner, on any woman. I certainly have never committed rape.’
Two days later, he wrote: ‘It is disheartening and sad to me that as a result of twounverified and provably untrue social media claims, there are some in this environment who could ever conclude I have had anything to do with such vile and horrific conduct.
‘I have absolutely not, and I am cooperating with the authorities so that they can clear my name as soon as possible.’
Ordeal By Innocence had been intended to air on BBC1 over the Christmas period but the corporation pulled the show in November amid the sex abuse allegations.
It is understood the decision to reshoot the scenes was made by the co-producers of the drama, not the BBC.
Agatha Christie Limited and Mammoth Screen confirmed they will ‘reshoot sections’ of the series, which is filmed on location in Scotland.