Charlotte Church received apology from BBC bosses after presenter's saucy TV remark
The Welsh singer, presenter and activist has proved an instant hit on the BBC's first series of The Celebrity Traitors
The Celebrity Traitors returns for a second week on Wednesday night, with the BBC spin-off series already proving a hit with viewers.
Kicking off last Wednesday, the opening two episodes saw host Claudia Winkleman appoint three Traitors - TV presenter Jonathan Ross, comedian Alan Carr and singer Cat Burns - to 'murder' their fellow contestants, or 'Faithfuls', while avoiding detection. The trio's first victim was singer Paloma Faith, while the second episode ended on a cliffhanger over who would be the first contestant 'banished' at the opening round table.
One contestant who looks to be safe from banishment for now is singer, presenter and activist Charlotte Church, who has delighted viewers on her return to the BBC and provided one of the highlights of the opening episode as she was forced to dig her own grave while wearing an all-white dress.
However, Church once found herself receiving an apology from the broadcaster after a saucy remark about her sex life - made by one of the corporation's most long-standing and widely respected presenters - sparked outrage amongst viewers.
Back in 2005, the singer-songwriter was just 19 years old but firmly in the spotlight as her relationship with Wales rugby international Gavin Henson dominated headlines week after week. They quickly became used to seeing the ins-and-outs of their romance splashed across newspaper pages and discussed on TV, but it was an unlikely individual who ended up overstepping the mark.
Former tennis star-turned-celebrated presenter Sue Barker was part of the hosting team for that year's BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards, but a gag she made about Church and Henson during the two-hour flagship show didn't go down well with viewers.
Barker was interviewing Wales rugby head coach Mike Ruddock, who had led his side to a Grand Slam win in the Six Nations for the first time since 1978 earlier in the year. Asked about his team's chances of repeating their triumph at the next tournament, the Wimbledon icon took her chance to crack a saucy joke.
“Obviously you will be hoping to successfully defend the Six Nations Championship with your star player Gavin Henson," she said. "As long as you can keep him out of Church.”
The studio audience were taken aback by Barker's remark, while Henson, who turned up late to the awards after being caught in traffic, was reportedly left fuming when he was told about the joke. Those watching at home weren't impressed either, with the BBC reported at the time to have received "a barrage of complaints" from viewers.
Both Church and Henson later received an apology from BBC chiefs, with a spokesman saying simply: "We are sorry if it [Barker's remark] caused any offence.”
It wasn't the only controversy of the night, as Barker spoke to marathon runner Paula Radcliffe - who famously relieved herself on the roadside during that year's London Marathon - about her next race, and remarked: “Just make sure you check out the Portaloos before you get there.”
Her co-host Gary Lineker also received criticism after telling equestrian and Royal Family member Zara Tindall that she was "hot totty", before cricketer Freddie Flintoff went on to be crowned that year's Sports Personality of the Year.
Church and Henson were first seen in public together in April 2005 and moved in together the following year. In 2007, they welcomed their first child, Ruby, while their second child, Dexter was born less than 18 months later.
It looked as though the Welsh power couple would go from strength to strength together, with the rugby star proposing to Church on her 24th birthday in 2010. However, they decided to split up just six weeks later, after five years together.