TV hostess cleared of blackmail

Beverley Jackson, the former television chat show hostess, was yesterday cleared of blackmailing a wealthy businessman with whom she had an affair.

The prosecution had alleged that Ms Jackson, of St John's Wood, north- west London, a former presenter of Saturday Night at the Mill, threatened to tell the 71-year-old man's wife and business associates about the affair unless he gave her money. She said he had voluntarily given her money, amounting to thousands of pounds, for 12 years.