BBC Drama Replaces Ed Westwick Amid Sexual Assault Allegations

Gossip Girl alum Ed Westwick has been replaced in the BBC drama Ordeal by Innocence after actress Kristina Cohen accused him of raping her three years ago, Variety reports. Christian Cooke will take over the role and reshoot all of Westwick's scenes in the adaptation of the Agatha Christie novel. The mini-series was originally supposed to air as part of BBC One's Christmas lineup but had been pulled after Cohen's accusations came to light.

A similar decision was in the fall for Christopher Plummer to replace Kevin Spacey in Ridley Scott's All the Money in the World, with the actor reshooting all of Spacey's scenes in about nine days.

Westwick has denied the allegations made against him. "I do not know this woman. I have never forced myself in any manner, on any woman. I certainly have never committed rape," he said in an Instagram post.

He recently starred in the Netflix series White Gold, but production on Season 2 has been halted amid the allegations.