Lizzy Bardsley

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Lizzy Bardsley

Born c.1973
Occupation Reality TV participant

Elizabeth "Lizzy" Bardsley (born c.1973) is an English former reality TV contestant who came to fame after appearing on Wife Swap in 2003.

Contents

[edit] Early life

Elizabeth Bardsley was born in about 1973.[1] Bardsley has eight children and is married to Mark Bardsley. In 1997, her 13-week-old son Timmy Jay died of cot death.[2] Bardsley is from Milnrow in Greater Manchester.[1]

[edit] Media career

Mark and Lizzy Bardsley appeared in an episode of the first series of the Channel 4 programme Wife Swap, which was aired on 7 October 2003. They caused controversy by claiming £37,500 a year in benefits, while not working, and by swearing very frequently.[1][3]

Following her appearance on Wife Swap, Lizzy Bardsley appeared on Kilroy and The Weakest Link, in a celebrity edition which she won.[4] She did interviews in many magazines, including heat and Closer and appeared topless in The Sunday Sport.[5] In 2004, Bardsley appeared with many other reality TV stars in Five's Back to Reality.[6] The following year, she took part in the third series of Celebrity Fit Club, and lost 1 stone 9 pounds.[7] The same year Mark and Lizzy Bardsley starred in Bed & Bardsleys, where they ran their own Blackpool Bed and Breakfast.[4] Since then, the Bardsleys have separated.[7]

[edit] Criminal charges

In November 2004, Bardsley was accused of failing to inform the Department for Work and Pensions that she had earned money from TV and media appearances and was accused of being overpaid £4879.87.[1] She denied the allegations and claimed the all the money she earned had been given to various charities and her sister.[5] On 27 September 2004, Bardsley was found guilty of benefit fraud and sentenced to 80 hours community service and ordered to pay £2400 costs.[2] She was also told to pay back the money.

The year later, in March 2006, Lizzy Bardsley was arrested on suspicion of child cruelty.[8] On 3 April, she was charged with 10 counts of child cruelty relating to offences between 1996 and 2005.[8] Bardsley was found guilty at Bolton Crown Court of four charges of child cruelty on 23 January 2007, and on 23 February was given an eight month suspended sentence for two years at Manchester Crown Court.[9][10]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d "'Wife Swap' star's benefit charge", BBC, 16 November 2004. 
  2. ^ a b "Reality TV star cheated benefits", BBC, 27 September 2005. 
  3. ^ "Wife-swap Lizzy insists: 'I'm a star'", Rochdale Observer, 14 October 2003. 
  4. ^ a b "Lizzy guilty of child cruelty", Rochdale Observer, 26 January 2007. 
  5. ^ a b "Wife Swap star 'gave to charity'", BBC, 6 September 2005. 
  6. ^ "'Reality' hits the ground walking", BBC, 17 February 2004. 
  7. ^ a b "Cruelty Rap for TV Lizzy", The Daily Record, 4 April 2006. 
  8. ^ a b "Reality star child cruelty claims", BBC, 8 March 2006. 
  9. ^ "Wife Swap star guilty of cruelty", BBC, 23 January 2007. 
  10. ^ "Wife Swap Lizzy escapes jail term", BBC, 22 February 2007.