Collymore's TV role confirmed

Former footballer Stan Collymore will definitely feature in new reality BBC show The Verdict as part of a jury sitting on a mock rape trial as revealed by the Express & Star, it was announced today.

We exclusively revealed last week that Collymore, of Cannock, was included in the line-up while TV bosses remained tight-lipped.

But they have now admitted he is among those taking part in The Verdict alongside such names as former Tory MP and author Jeffrey Archer plus actresses Honor Blackman, Patsy Palmer and Jennifer Ellison.

The jurors will sit on a four day trial, presided over by a real judge, with real barristers. Deliberations in the jury room will also be filmed.

The mock case is the rape trial of a fictional famous footballer, Damien Scott, and his friend, James Gree.

Collymore's agent Simon Kennedy said: " He's been asked to do I'm a Celebrity pretty much every year since it started but has turned it down. He did this one because he thought it was educational, stimulating and did not just involve sitting around."

The Verdict is screened on BBC Two early next year.