TOWIE’s Dan Osborne REMOVED from Dad Of The Year award shortlist over abuse claims

UPDATE: A spokesperson for the award has made this statement:

"The Celebrity Dad Of The Year shortlist is compiled from public suggestions with the top ten being named as finalists.

"In this instance, we feel it is right to intervene and remove Dan Osborne from the shortlist in order to not detract from the wider celebration of fatherhood and remaining worthy finalists."

Ex-TOWIE star Dan Osborne has been taken off a Celebrity Dad Of The Year shortlist after backlash from domestic abuse campaigners.

The 23-year-old dad of two was earlier this year unmasked as the male voice in a video threatening his ex, Megan Tomlin, who is the mother of his son Teddy, two.

While no further charges were taken against him, TOWIE bosses decided to drop him from the reality show and wished him well for the future.

Now icelolly.com, which runs both the Celebrity Mum and Celebrity Dad awards each year, has taken him off its shortlist.

Hilary Fisher, director of Women's Aid, told the Sun: "We question the responsibility of nominating anyone for this award who may have been involved in a domestic abuse incident.

"Being abusive towards women – be that physically, emotionally, or verbally – are not qualities that make a good father."

She added that as a celebrity, Dan could be seen as a role model, and said: "It is deeply irresponsible to send the message out that being abusive towards women has no bearing on you as a father."

Dan himself has admitted to being the man in the audio clip, but said his ex had wound him up.

"That day really was a matter of me being pushed to my limit so I said loads of stupid things I didn't mean," he said.

"I had everything said to me that could possibly hurt a man ... and relating to their child. And the moment she got the reaction she wanted, she pressed record."

Meanwhile, Dan's girlfriend Jacqueline Jossa – who gave birth to their baby girl Ella earlier this year – is standing by him.

Jacqueline Jossa's baby shower was SO PINK!