Two contestants on Simon Cowell and ITV's crisis-hit, £1m gameshow, Red or Black?, have been removed from the final stages of the series following an investigation into their backgrounds.

In the wake of the tabloid storm over the former criminal Nathan Hageman scooping the first jackpot, co-producers Syco and ITV have made more detailed checks on the remaining contestants.

The Guardian has learned that one contestant did not reveal when asked that he had a criminal record and he will not appear on the show. It is understood the contestant is yet to appear on-screen.

A second contestant has also been removed although it is not yet known what, if any, crime they committed.

The two were due to appear on different nights but will not be replaced due to the nature of the gambling show.

However, the producers and broadcaster face a legal minefield if they ban people from taking part in the show who have committed an offence and served their time in prison.

Part of roulette-based Red or Black? is pre-recorded with the final broadcast live, giving the producers a small window in which to do more background checks on people.

Sources say the sheer scale of super-sized gameshow, with 1,000 contestants taking part in the first stages, and the fast turnaround of the show means it is difficult to do very detailed checks on people.

Sources say the sheer scale of super-sized gameshow, with 1,000 contestants taking part in the first stages, and the fast turnaround of the show means it is difficult to do very detailed checks on people.

Syco and ITV have been in intense talks after it emerged that Hageman was allegedly jailed for beating up a woman.

Although the producers knew he had served a prison sentence for assault it is understood the full details were not known.

It is understood that, legally, Syco and ITV found their hands were tied with regards to Hageman as he had declared he had a criminal record

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/sep/07/red-or-black-removes-contestants

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