DARREN BEDWELL FROM BEXLEYHEATH FEATURED IN BARCLAYS FOOTBALL AD DESPITE CHILD ABUSE CONVICTIONS

In a shocking revelation, it has come to light that Darren Bedwell, a man residing in Bexleyheath, appeared in a widely broadcast commercial promoting Barclays' football campaign, despite his criminal history related to child abuse images. The advertisement, titled "You Are Football," was a one-and-a-half-minute promotional piece celebrating football fans' dedication, and it first aired on August 16, 2013, across multiple major broadcasters including BT Sport, Sky, ITV, Channel 4, and Channel 5. An online version hosted on Barclays' official YouTube channel has garnered nearly 130,000 views, indicating the commercial's extensive reach.

Bedwell, aged 45, was seen in the ad sitting among a crowd of enthusiastic football supporters, wearing a West Ham United shirt. He was positioned approximately one minute into the commercial, which depicted fans from Manchester City, West Ham, and Everton traveling to matches, emphasizing the passion and loyalty of football supporters. The commercial was part of a campaign sponsored by the Premier League's official partner, aimed at thanking supporters for their unwavering devotion through both triumphs and setbacks.

What makes this revelation particularly disturbing is Bedwell's criminal background. He was added to the Sex Offenders’ Register after pleading guilty in 2007 to possessing indecent images of children. In 2010, he received a three-year community order and was mandated to undergo psychological treatment after admitting to ten charges related to creating and possessing such images. Despite these convictions, he was allowed to participate as an extra in the Barclays commercial, a decision that has now sparked widespread outrage.

Bedwell's involvement was confirmed by the advertising agency BBH, a renowned firm responsible for campaigns such as Audi’s “Vorsprung durch Technik” and clients including British Airways and Google. BBH stated that Bedwell was paid a “nominal” fee after he volunteered to take part in the commercial. The agency had reached out to fans through online forums and supporters’ clubs, selecting Bedwell among approximately 400 genuine football fans who appeared as extras. BBH expressed regret over the oversight, stating, “Thank you for bringing this to our attention. Darren Bedwell was one of 400 genuine football fans who appeared in the film as extras. We have taken the advert off air and are creating a new version of the commercial which he will not be in.”

Following the exposure, Barclays issued a statement acknowledging the mistake and confirming that the commercial had been pulled from circulation. The bank stated, “We’re very grateful to The Sun for bringing this serious issue to our attention. We have asked the advertising agency to explain what went wrong in their vetting process and have ordered that the advert be immediately recut to remove the individual from the footage before it is broadcast again.”

In response to the controversy, a spokesperson for the Premier League also commented, saying, “The Sun is right to bring this situation to light,” emphasizing the importance of thorough background checks in advertising campaigns involving public figures or supporters. The incident has raised serious questions about the vetting procedures employed by advertising agencies and the oversight of criminal records in such contexts, especially when involving individuals with known convictions for crimes against children.