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Tarrant blames drunken row for arrest over ‘assault’ on girlfriend
Last updated at 16:20pm on 16.03.09TELEVISION quiz show host Chris Tarrant has laughed off the suggestion that he assaulted his girlfriend at his home.
The 62-year-old Who Wants To Be A Millionaire presenter spent time in police custody after being arrested when officers were called to his home in Esher, Surrey.
Today he admitted he had been involved in an argument with his 46-year-old girlfriend, Jane Bird, before police arrived.
Dating: Tarrant with current girlfriend Jane Bird
“There is no story,” he said. “We had a row, it happens. It was about nothing in particular and absolutely nothing physical happened — it was as simple as that.”
Tarrant said he and Ms Bird had been to a Tina Turner concert at the O2 in Greenwich before getting into a shouting match — believed to have been overheard by neighbours — in the private drive of his home.
“We were both a bit tipsy,” he said. “We might have had a few bottles.”
Tarrant, who split from wife Ingrid in 2006 after an affair with teacher Fiona McKechnie, added that he did not know who reported the incident.
“I don't know who called the police,” he said. “I was there for about two hours and after that a very nice man drove me home in a private car.”
Tarrant then drove away from his property, saying he was going to meet Ms Bird. “I'm just about to pick her up and take her to lunch,” he said.
Surrey police said that they were called at 12.58am on Thursday, 5 March.
A police spokesman said: “We can confirm a man in his early sixties was arrested in the early hours following a domestic dispute on suspicion of common assault. He was released later without charge.”
Two years ago Tarrant was arrested at an Indian restaurant in Nottingham over allegations that he had injured a fellow diner, which he denied. He was cautioned but no charges were brought.
Reader views (2)
and once again the Police "leak" or even openly tell the press about something which should be confidential until it is at least vaguely on its way to being a real complaint. Do the Police get paid for releasing this sort of story?
- Julia, london
Once again a man is arrested and subjected to police detention over what is usually a female induced assault. Her name is not mentioned but he gets full publicity as the police wont act against females who assault males.
- Mr A Vernalls, Droitwich Worcestershire
