Rylan Clark-Neal is calling for Celebrity Big Brother to play housemates footage of the moment Ryan Thomas allegedly punched Roxanne Pallett.
The presenter, who hosts spin-off show Celebrity Big Brother’s Bit on the Side, risked clashing with the show’s producers to offer his view on the incident.
Taking to Twitter, Rylan said: “I’m gonna get in trouble for this, I’m all for no interfering, no outside contact etc …. BUT SHOW THE HOUSEMATES THE FOOTAGE. There I’ve said it. Praying they will.”
Former Emmerdale actress Roxanne claimed that housemate Ryan punched her in the ribs.
Read more: Roxanne Pallett’s rep issues statement after Ryan Thomas ‘punch’ incident
She was left in tears and Ryan, who apologised and said there was no malice intended, received a formal warning from Big Brother.
But Roxanne ended up quitting the show after hearing the live audience shouting for her to leave during Ben’s eviction.
Many fans vented their frustration on Twitter, with one user writing: “Can’t stand #CBB but had to share this, what a manipulative, conniving, poisonous woman she is!”
Another said: “Roxanne says she’s never felt impact like Ryan punching her before. How bad was her car crash for a punch to have more impact? #cbb”
But not all fans were completely on Ryan’s side, with one saying: “I watched the footage slowed down, and you can clearly see Ryan punch Roxanne in ribs, she is very thin, and it would have hurt her.”
After the incident, hawk-eyed viewers noticed that Roxanne appeared to hold the wrong side of her body. Ryan touched her left side but afterwards she clutched her right in pain, fuelling suspicions that she was not being genuine.
The actress’s rep said in a statement after she quit the show: “Roxanne decided to leave the CBB house late last night after deliberating for two days with some sensitive issues she felt strongly about.
Read more: Ryan Thomas’ daughter sends sweet message as he battles through CBB hell
“She has now been reunited with her fiancé and family and thanks everyone for their support during her time in the show.”
Ryan’s girlfriend Lucy Mecklenburgh argued Ryan was being playful, blasting Roxanne’s reaction as “a mockery of domestic violence”.
Speaking to ED!, a spokesperson for Roxanne said: “Roxanne has no contact with the outside world to make her own statement, however we do know that Roxanne has worked closely with various domestic violence charities due to being a victim of domestic violence herself.
“She would be very upset to find out she may have caused offence to others who have been through the same.”
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