Gumleaf
March 24th, 2010, 04:54 AM
20:08 AEST Wed Mar 24 2010
Actor Robert Hughes has denied allegations he was involved in inappropriate conduct with a child co-star on the set of the Australian TV comedy Hey Dad!
Hughes says he is shocked at the allegations made by Sarah Monahan who was six years old when she started playing his on-screen daughter Jenny Kelly in the Seven Network show in the 1980s.
"I am absolutely totally shocked at the allegation and I absolutely deny everything," he told the Nine Network on Wednesday.
"I am absolutely puzzled as to why this is being said now.
"Everything now is in the hands of defamation lawyers. So, no comment."
Monahan told Woman's Day magazine last week a man on the show inappropriately touched her and exposed himself to her.
She also told Nine he would "touch my boobs" and try to tickle her on the bed in the dressing rooms.
Monahan, who now lives in the United States, did not name the man.
But Nine's A Current Affair on Wednesday named Hughes as the alleged perpetrator and said other women have come forward with similar claims.
Hughes, who played the popular show's central character Martin Kelly, now lives in Singapore.
Another co-star of the show which ran from 1987 to 1994, Ben Oxenbould, told Nine he was aware of Hughes' alleged behaviour with Monahan, but was intimidated into keeping quiet.
"His behaviour was highly inappropriate," Oxenbould said.
Oxenbould said he approached the show's executive producer Gary Reilly about Hughes' alleged behaviour.
"I thought the issue needed addressing and I was very confused why nothing was being done about it," he said.
"I told him what I knew and I was ... intimidated into not saying anything."
Oxenbould said Reilly said to him: "You consider this a lesson in professionalism."
Reilly told Nine last week he had no idea at the time about Monahan's claims.
Oxenbould said he was prepared to talk to police who are considering investigating the claims.
© AAP 2010
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Actor Robert Hughes has denied allegations he was involved in inappropriate conduct with a child co-star on the set of the Australian TV comedy Hey Dad!
Hughes says he is shocked at the allegations made by Sarah Monahan who was six years old when she started playing his on-screen daughter Jenny Kelly in the Seven Network show in the 1980s.
"I am absolutely totally shocked at the allegation and I absolutely deny everything," he told the Nine Network on Wednesday.
"I am absolutely puzzled as to why this is being said now.
"Everything now is in the hands of defamation lawyers. So, no comment."
Monahan told Woman's Day magazine last week a man on the show inappropriately touched her and exposed himself to her.
She also told Nine he would "touch my boobs" and try to tickle her on the bed in the dressing rooms.
Monahan, who now lives in the United States, did not name the man.
But Nine's A Current Affair on Wednesday named Hughes as the alleged perpetrator and said other women have come forward with similar claims.
Hughes, who played the popular show's central character Martin Kelly, now lives in Singapore.
Another co-star of the show which ran from 1987 to 1994, Ben Oxenbould, told Nine he was aware of Hughes' alleged behaviour with Monahan, but was intimidated into keeping quiet.
"His behaviour was highly inappropriate," Oxenbould said.
Oxenbould said he approached the show's executive producer Gary Reilly about Hughes' alleged behaviour.
"I thought the issue needed addressing and I was very confused why nothing was being done about it," he said.
"I told him what I knew and I was ... intimidated into not saying anything."
Oxenbould said Reilly said to him: "You consider this a lesson in professionalism."
Reilly told Nine last week he had no idea at the time about Monahan's claims.
Oxenbould said he was prepared to talk to police who are considering investigating the claims.
© AAP 2010
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