Ordeal by Innocence was due to air this Boxing Day, but has been put on hold in the midst of an investigation surrounding actor Ed Westwick.

A spokesperson for the BBC said in a statement: “These are serious allegations which Ed Westwick has strenuously denied. The BBC is not making any judgement but until these matters are resolved we will not include Ordeal by Innocence in the schedules”.

In addition, Westwick is no longer filming the BBC Two comedy series, White Gold.

The BBC said: “The independent production company making White Gold has informed us that Ed Westwick has paused from filming while he deals with these allegations.” Filming will continue without him.

Westwick was accused of rape by two women – Aurélie Wynn and Kristina Cohen – in November. Cohen, writing in a lengthy Facebook post, alleged that she was assaulted at Westwick’s house in 2014.

“I was paralysed, terrified,” she said. “I couldn’t speak, I could no longer move. He held me down and raped me.”

Agatha Christie drama starring Ed Westwick dropped due to ongoing rape investigation