Boy George's Big Brother Ban

Boy George will not be allowed to appear on 'Celebrity Big Brother'.

The singer - real name George O'Dowd - had been attempting to lift a Probation Service ban on him appearing on the show, which starts on January 3 next year, at London's High Court today (23.12.09).

George was released on licence in May after serving four months of a 15 month sentence for false imprisonment of a male escort and attacking him with a chain in 2007.

A spokesperson for the Probation Service said: "We expect offenders to keep to their licence conditions which are in place to protect the public, punish offenders for their crime and aid rehabilitation.

"We believe we made a common sense direction and this has been endorsed by a judge."

While George's probation officer is believed to have initially agreed to him appearing on the reality TV show, Mr Justice Bean ruled the singer could not change the terms of his sentence.

Among the terms of George's bail are that he "permanently resides" at an address approved by a probation officer, and gives notification of any approved change of address.

Richard Clayton QC, representing the Probation Service, claimed allowing George onto the Channel 4 reality TV show could undermine public confidence in the legal system.

A judge at the High Court is expected to give his reasons for not allowing the former Culture Club singer to appear on the programme later today.

George had reportedly already agreed a £200,000 fee for appearing on the show.