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Craig McLachlan denies harassment allegations

Updated: Allegations made by 3 women during 2014 stage production. Seven seeking update from Dr. Blake producers.

Doctor Blake Mysteries star Craig McLachlan is today at the centre of allegations published jointly by Fairfax and ABC.

Three actresses have accused him of “predatory” advances during the 2014 stage production of The Rocky Horror Show. McLachlan, 52, is currently touring with a revival of the musical in Adelaide in the lead role of Dr Frank-N-Furter.

Actresses Christie Whelan Browne, Erika Heynatz, and Angela Scundi have all gone on the record in a string of allegations ranging from uninvited kissing to groping, exposure, bullying and indecent assault.

They claim advances were made both on and off stage during the raunchy production, and say they notified crew and management of the Gordon Frost Organisation.

Heynatz and Scundi have both made statements to police and, along with Whelan Browne, have given interviews due to air tonight on 7:30.

In a statement to Fairfax / ABC McLachlan vehemently denied the claims, describing them as  “baseless” and “they seem to be simple inventions, perhaps made for financial reasons, perhaps to gain notoriety”.

“These allegations are ALL made up,” he said.

“I am, and have been at all relevant times, in a stable relationship with my long-term partner.”

Addressing some of the specific claims he said, “I have no recollection whatsoever of any such event.”

He rejected the suggestion that his kissing scenes were becoming longer and more intimate. “How little you appear to know about this production of the show,” he said, claiming that during the performance “there are a number of small comic kisses directed in the piece”.

He said his “accusers” have had “thousands of opportunities to raise these accusations” but none of them did.

None of the claims are alleged or associated with The Doctor Blake Mysteries, ABC nor December Media. McLachlan also has an ensemble role in TEN drama The Wrong Girl which itself has included Whelan Browne.

ABC last year confirmed it had axed the hit mystery show to divest funds into new projects. But after a social media campaign Seven announced it had swooped on the title, expected to resurface as telemovies later this year.

McLachlan is one of the country’s most loved TV stars, with a Gold Logie to his name and Silver Logie nominations becoming a household name in the UK thanks to his success in Neighbours and Home & Away.

Both ABC and Fairfax recently reported allegations against TV gardener Don Burke, which he has since denied.

Updated:

Detectives from Melbourne’s Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team are investigating allegations dating back to 2014, a spokesman from Victoria Police has confirmed.

“As the investigation is ongoing it would be inappropriate to make any further comments,” the spokesman said.

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