Max Goldbart
Reality stars from some of the UK’s biggest TV shows have pleaded not guilty to charges related to online investment schemes on social media.
According to the BBC, which was reporting from the court yesterday, well-known figures including The Only Way is Essex‘s Lauren Goodger, Love Island‘s Biggs Chris and Geordie Shore‘s Scott Timlin issued a not guilty plea at Southwark Crown Court. There are nine defendants in all, eight of whom pleaded not guilty and one of whom did not attend the hearing, the BBC said.
Given the court’s incredible backlog, the trial date has been set for 2027, which was the earliest the court could accommodate the case.
The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority brought charges against the stars, alleging they were paid to promote a high-risk trading scheme on social media between 2018 and 2021. The FCA said 80% of customers who bought into the scheme, promoted using the account @holly_fxtrends, lost money.
The BBC said that the reality stars appeared in court alongside the people who are alleged to have run the scheme.
The group comprises some of the most well-known figures in British reality TV stalwarts from down the years.