Blades also presented the BBC’s Money For Nothing until 2020, appeared on Celebrity Masterchef, Celebrity Bake Off and Comic Relief, and delved into the history of the West Midlands and the East End for two Channel 5 documentaries.
Last March, he became Buckinghamshire New University’s first chancellor, having studied for a degree in criminology and philosophy from 2001.
He has now left the role, and a spokesman said: “Jay Blades MBE has resigned from his role as chancellor at Buckinghamshire New University with immediate effect. We thank Jay for his loyal service to the university, and will be making no further comment.”
In wake of the charge, the BBC is said to have dropped a repeat of an episode of David & Jay’s Touring Toolshed, in which Blades appears with the actor Sir David Jason. A BBC spokesman said: “It would not be appropriate to comment on ongoing legal proceedings.”