Channel 4 bosses 'charging celeb guests £75 to hire a dressing room'

‘It’s totally unheard of in the industry!’ Channel 4 bosses ‘are charging celebrity guests £75 to hire a dressing room’ for appearances on weekend chat show Sunday Brunch

Channel 4 bosses are reportedly charging celeb Sunday Brunch guests £75 for the use of a dressing room on the show.

Guests on the food and chat show, hosted by Tim Lovejoy and chef Simon Rimmer, have been told they can relax in the ‘communal green room’ before filming. 

Celebrities have been receiving emails that read: ‘changing facilities are available in the hair and make-up room, if required’.

However, according to The Sun if stars want an ‘individual dressing room’ it would be ‘subject to a small fee (£75)’.

A source told The Sun: ‘Celebrities have been really taken aback by the move, it’s totally unheard of in the industry.

Strange: Channel 4 bosses are reportedly charging celeb Sunday Brunch guests £75 for the use of a dressing room on the show

‘They don’t charge a fee to appear, so why should they stump up cash to get changed in private?

‘Female stars are particularly furious as they usually have to get changed and expect a private dressing room to be laid on.

‘It’s a cheeky move and presumably part of some cost-cutting exercise.’

MailOnline has contacted Channel 4 for contact.  

It comes after Simon sparked outraged online after commenting on his decision to have unisex toilets in his new vegetarian restaurant in a Greater Manchester town.

The Sunday Brunch host opened Greens on Stanley Square in Sale, last year, but one customer was left disappointed after discovering the lack of single-sex toilets.

Twitter user Lulabelle B wrote on Saturday: ‘Just been to @simonrim’s lovely new restaurant where I was disappointed to discover gender neutral toilets. Men and women awkwardly shuffling round each other wondering if they were in the wrong place.’

The celebrity chef took to his own social media profile to address the choice, saying it was ‘not taken lightly’ and explaining that the establishment has ‘trans and non-binary customers and staff’.

Facing backlash from many followers, he added diners who find unisex toilets ‘unacceptable’ should use the separate accessible toilet.

A source told The Sun: ‘Celebrities have been really taken aback by the move, it’s totally unheard of in the industry.’

Brutal: Guests on the food and chat show, hosted by Tim Lovejoy and chef Simon Rimmer, have been told they can relax in the ‘communal green room’ before filming

Taking to Twitter, Simon said: ‘Our decision to have unisex toilets was not taken lightly. We have trans and non-binary customers and staff.

‘We also have a separate accessible toilet for any person who finds the unisex toilets unacceptable. We listen to feedback from customers constantly.’

He later added that the cubicle doors are floor-to-ceiling in length, there are no urinals in the new build’s bathroom and it is ‘safe and clean’.

However, some diners were left less than impressed, with one person writing: ‘They’re nice. 

‘I just don’t get how it’s equality to force women and girls into enclosed spaces with unknown men. Predatory men are often opportunists. Why create more opportunities?’

Another said: ‘So people with disabilities will likely have to wait to use the toilet specifically made for their needs because you care more about looking woke? Cool, cool.’

A third added: ‘Which business is this please? I just want to make sure I never accidentally visit it.’

A fourth wrote: ‘Many people don’t use accessible toilets as they wouldn’t want those who need them to have to wait. Did you consider this in your arrangements?’

To which Simon replied: ‘Correct me if I’m wrong, but we were told by building control that an accessible toilet is for disabled people and anybody requiring a more private environment due to religion or embarrassment or anxiety?’

But it wasn’t all negative reactions to Simon’s decision, with one individual saying: ‘The replies to this are unhinged. The loos look lovely and the people objecting to them have never made a good faith argument in their lives.

Controversial: It comes after Simon sparked outraged online after commenting on his decision to have unisex toilets in his new vegetarian restaurant in a Greater Manchester town

Speaking out: The celebrity chef took to his social media profile to address the choice, saying it was ‘not taken lightly’ and explaining that the establishment has ‘trans and non-binary customers and staff’

A second penned: ‘Everyone’s toilets at home are unisex, amazing how suddenly it’s an issue to have unisex toilets outside of that isn’t it.’

Another said online: ‘The first unisex toilet I ever went in was in a club in Amsterdam in 1975… can’t believe almost 50 years later some Brits are making a fuss about it.’

Simon presents Sunday Brunch each week with his TV partner Tim Lovejoy on Channel 4.

He opened the Greens Restaurant in Sale earlier this month, following the success of his first site in West Didsbury, which opened in 1990.

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