Huge blow for CBB star as TV show is AXED just weeks after leaving the house

Scottish Sun

07-05-2025

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CELEBRITY Big Brother star Donna Preston is facing a huge blow after her TV show, The Sandman, was axed.
Donna, 38, who left the house just under two weeks ago, had enjoyed a role in the Netflix fantasy drama as Despair, one of the seven Endless.
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Donna Preston is facing a huge blow after her TV show, The Sandman, was axed
Credit: Getty
But, since the streaming hit has been canned beyond its second season, she'll have a gaping gap in her calendar.
The decision coincides with allegations of sexual misconduct against creator Neil Gaiman.
While he vehemently denies them, they have led to the suspension or cancellation of several of his other projects.
The Sandman follows the story of Morpheus (Tom Sturridge) who is the personification of dreams and nightmares.
He is part of the Endless family of cosmic beings and was initially captured in 1916 in occult ritual.
But after being held captive for 106 years, he escapes back into the world and he wants to restore order back in his realm.
Donna's portrayal of Despair was well-received, and she was set to reprise her role in the third season alongside returning cast members Tom (Dream), Kirby Howell-Baptiste (Death), and Mason Alexander Park (Desire).
The blow comes just weeks after she reached the Celebrity Big Brother final, finishing in fourth place behind JoJo Siwa, Danny Beard and eventual winner Jack P. Shepherd.
Neil, 64, has responded to the shock claims from eight women by saying he has "never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone. Ever."
The popular English writer is also known for American Gods and the children's book Coraline, as well as co-writing Good Omens alongside Terry Pratchett in 1990.
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The show went on to become a hit BBC and Amazon TV series with Neil acting as the writer and executive producer.
But after a bombshell report released in New York Magazine detailed a number of shock claims against the Brit which span back to 1986 production on the third season of the show was axed.
One allegation included a woman who accused Neil of raping her in a bathtub outside.
In a blog post in January, the popular author said he has read the allegations and felt "horror and dismay".
He wrote: "I've stayed quiet until now, both out of respect for the people who were sharing their stories and out of a desire not to draw even more attention to a lot of misinformation.
"I've always tried to be a private person, and felt increasingly that social media was the wrong place to talk about important personal matters.
"I've now reached the point where I feel that I should say something.
"As I read through this latest collection of accounts, there are moments I half-recognise and moments I don't, descriptions of things that happened sitting beside things that emphatically did not happen.
"I'm far from a perfect person, but I have never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone. Ever."
Neil said he had read back text messages from the time of one of the assaults and felt they were "of two people enjoying entirely consensual sexual relationships".
He added that he "could have and should have done so much better" and realised he hadn't been as "thoughtful" as he would have liked looking back.
He continued: "I was obviously careless with people's hearts and feelings, and that's something that I really, deeply regret.
"It was selfish of me. I was caught up in my own story and I ignored other people's.
"Like most of us, I'm learning, and I'm trying to do the work needed, and I know that that's not an overnight process."
The author said he understood that "not everyone will believe me".
Neil vehemently denies several of the allegations claiming they "simply never happened".
Others had been "distorted" from reality, he added.
Neil did not go into detail into which accusations he was referring to.
The New York Magazine report released on Monday detailed the allegations which ranged from rape to hitting one accuser with a belt.
All eight of the accusers said they had been willing to engage with many of Neil's requests - one of which often included calling him "master", according to the report.
But the women allege that during some acts they had removed their consent before or during.
Some also said they had not discussed or agreed on the acts and scenarios Neil wanted before they happened, claims the report.
Several of these allegations were first revealed on the Tortoise podcast which is hosted by journalist and broadcaster Rachel Johnson.
Neil's representatives had previously told Tortoise Media that "sexual degradation, bondage, domination, sadism and masochism may not be to everyone's taste, but between consenting adults, BDSM is lawful".
A police report accusing Neil of sexual assault was made in January 2023, but the investigation was eventually dropped.
The Sun contacted Neil's representatives for comment at the time.
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She had enjoyed a role as Despair, one of the seven Endless
Credit: Netflix
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Donna came fourth in the ITV reality show
Credit: Rex