BB FANS

theSun
By GUY PATRICK

WIFE Swap TV star Lizzy Bardsley yesterday denied benefit fraud — despite claiming £37,500 a year while being paid thousands for interviews.

The mother-of-eight shot to fame on the Channel 4 reality show when her foul-mouthed antics shocked viewers.

She claims her earnings — almost £5,000 — were given to her sister Jenny Hallisey and a cot death research charity.

Rochdale JPs heard Bardsley was paid £2,000 for a topless photo-shoot, £1,300 for magazine interviews, £150 to appear on Kilroy, plus £1,030 for being in Wife Swap.

The 32-year-old, of Rochdale, Gtr Manchester, is accused of being overpaid £4,879.87 after failing to tell officials.

Prosecutor Vincent Carr said: “It is all very well saying this money was paid to charitable organisations — and certainly some of it was.

“But while that is commendable, it is not appropriate considering she was getting subsidies from the public purse.”

Bardsley, who told the court she lost a 13-week-old child to cot death, gets income support, child benefit, carers allowance and incapacity benefit for her husband.

She and husband Mark, 34, star in new Channel 4 show Bed and Bardsleys.

The trial continues.

ITV
4.40PM, Tue Sep 27 2005

Lizzie Bardsley - who shot to fame after appearing in Wife Swap - has been found guilty of being a benefit cheat.
The mother of eight pocketed £3,800 for media work while raking in £37,500 a year in state handouts.

Bardsley, 32, was claming four different benefits at the same time as being paid for TV appearances and newspaper and magazine articles. She claimed to have given the cash away to charity or to her family.

But magistrates in Rochdale decided she should have been aware the extra cash amounted to a change in circumstances and declared the benefits to the Department of Work and Pensions.

She was found guilty of benefit fraud and will now have to pay back the £4,879 overpayment, which will be taken from her current benefits.

She was also sentenced to 80 hours community service and ordered to pay £2,400 in court costs.

After the verdict David Chad, defending Bardsley, said she intends to appeal against the court's decision.

He said Mrs Bardsley continues to maintain she did not keep any of the cash for her own financial gain but gave it away.

Can't stand Lizzie Bardsley - she's a disgrace.

11 December 2005
People

TV Wife Swap scrounger Lizzie Bardsley has split with her husband Mark after a series of rows.

The mum-of-eight, who bragged in the Channel 4 show how her family raked in £37,500 a year in handouts, is staying in her three-bed semi.

Jobless Mark has left the family home in Rochdale, Lancs.

Lizzie, 32, who had been married for nearly eight years, said yesterday: "It is amicable and we wish to be left alone."

A source added: "They're a feisty couple and have been having some seriously loud bust-ups."

Earlier this year a court ordered Lizzie to repay £5,000 in benefits after she failed to declare her television show earnings.