JOHN Leslie, the Scottish
television presenter, was named on live television yesterday as the man at the centre of the Ulrika Jonsson rape
allegation.
After the apparently accidental revelation his name was published in a series of newspaper and internet reports.
Leslie is thought to have discussed the matter with his lawyers yesterday. A statement was promised by his spokesman, but last night she said: ''There will be no statement today.''
Leslie's future television career was under scrutiny as LWT chiefs met to discuss the latest developments last night. He was not expected to appear today as co-host of This
Morning.
The presenter was at rehearsal for yesterday's show when he heard that Five, previously Channel 5, had named him.
Jonsson claimed in her autobiography, Honest, that she was attacked in a hotel bedroom when she was a trainee weather girl but has never named the man.
Matthew Wright, on his show The Wright Stuff, mentioned his name during an item entitled ''trial by media'' in which he discussed Jonsson's allegations with Vivienne Parry, a journalist and broadcaster.
Ms Parry was discussing two other women who have approached Max Clifford, the publicist, about encounters with the same man. These women have not alleged rape.
The slip by Wright ended a five-day guessing game for the public, although it had been known for many days within showbusiness and media circles that 37-year-old Leslie, a former Blue Peter presenter and one-time host of Wheel of Fortune, was the man at the centre of the allegations by Jonsson.
His friends have strenuously denied he attacked Jonsson, though he has admitted having a consensual sexual relationship with her.
Jonsson again refused to name Leslie yesterday. She has also not made any official complaint to police, despite being urged to do so by anti-rape campaign groups.
The presenter is facing a police investigation after another woman reported an alleged attack after seeing Jonsson talking about her claims on a TV chat show last week.
The 30-year-old woman has made a formal complaint to police in London of rape, alleged to have taken place in 1998.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: ''We can confirm that the Metropolitan Police is investigating an allegation of rape which was referred by City of London Police.''
The inquiry was later handed over to Scotland Yard's Serious Crime Group.
Leslie yesterday showed little sign of distress as he presented his early lunchtime programme, though he knew that by then his alleged connection with the Jonsson claim was already in the public domain.
Jonsson has not made any official complaint to police.
Her lawyers, Schillings, issued a statement on her behalf, reiterating her position.
It said: ''Ms Jonsson has never named her assailant nor has she ever had any intention of doing so.''
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