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John Cleese takes aim at British press for 'conspiracy' over Whittingdale sex worker story

"The biggest scandal for 50 years," he says.

Gianluca Mezzofiore

on April 13, 2016

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

LONDON -- John Cleese has launched a scathing attack against British newspapers for what he believes was a "cover-up" of Culture Secretary John Whittingdale's relationship with a sex worker.

Four national newspapers knew about the relationship but decided not to cover it, saying it was not in the public interest. Whittingdale was not a minister at the time of the relationship, which ended in 2014, and said he did not know the woman was a prostitute.

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After claiming on Twitter it was "the biggest scandal for 50 years," the actor and comedian lambasted the "odd wall of silence concerning the Press and Whittingdale."

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As part of his job, Whittingdale is overseeing a fresh regulatory framework under consideration following the Leveson Inquiry into press standards.

He told the BBC's Newsnight: "Between August 2013 and February 2014, I had a relationship with someone who I first met through Match.com.

"She was a similar age and lived close to me. At no time did she give me any indication of her real occupation and I only discovered this when I was made aware that someone was trying to sell a story about me to tabloid newspapers. As soon as I discovered, I ended the relationship.

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"This is an old story which was a bit embarrassing at the time. The events occurred long before I took up my present position and it has never had any influence on the decisions I have made as culture secretary."

Downing Street defended the culture minister, saying he was "a single man entitled to a private life."

Cleese, who is clearly in favour of the Leveson inquiry and campaigns for press regulation, took aim at the press who "blackmailed" Whittingdale over his sex affair:

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