Clean images up in smoke

East 17's Harvey: Said ecstasy makes "better people"

Pop stars and actors have occasionally proved that they are not as squeaky clean as they would like us to believe.

As well as S Club 7 singers Bradley McIntosh, Paul Cattermole, and Jon Lee, several other stars have come unstuck after details of drug-taking have come to light.

One of the most dramatic recent examples is that of Brian Harvey, former singer with chart-topping boy band East 17.

He was sacked from the group in 1997 after admitting to taking 12 ecstasy tablets in one night and claiming that the drug made "better people".

Alford: Supplied cocaine and cannabis

Actor and singer John Alford received a nine-month jail sentence for supplying cocaine and cannabis in 1999.

He lost his £50,000-a-year role in the ITV drama London's Burning as a result.

Another actor to have had a much-publicised drug problem is former EastEnders star Daniella Westbrook. She has been pictured in newspapers after losing the septum of her nose through a cocaine addiction.

Children's TV presenter Richard Bacon was kicked off Blue Peter after a national newspaper claimed he took cocaine. He admitted taking the drug and later gave £20,000 to the drugs charity Dare - Drug Abuse Resistance Education.

Pop act Boyzone's Mikey Graham - rivals of S Club 7 in the teen market - admitted smoking cannabis and but said that his comments were "about as subversive as a sponge cake".

Westbrook: Publicised cocaine habit

Supermarket chain Asda later cancelled a promotional tour by the singer although no action was taken by the police and he remained in Boyzone.

Other singers to admit using drugs - but who have had no legal action taken against them - include pop star Robbie Williams, his fellow Take That singer Gary Barlow and Wet Wet Wet's frontman Marti Pellow, who admitted to a heroin addiction.

Simply Red lead singer Mick Hucknall was cautioned for possession of cannabis and cocaine after police found the drugs in his home last year.

Earlier this month, American singer Whitney Houston - whose hits include I Will Always Love You and Saving All My Love For You - had charges against her dropped after a small amount of marijuana was found in her bag at a Hawaiian airport.

Graham: "As subversive as a sponge cake"

Controversial rapper Eminem was investigated by Manchester police after they suspected he had taken ecstasy on stage in February - although the substance later turned out to be chewing gum.

And Myleene Klass, of Popstars group Hear'Say, said in an interview with The Face magazine that cannabis should be legalised - although Hear'Say colleague Kym Marsh has said: "We do not do drugs and we do not think it is cool for anyone else to do drugs."

Also quoted as being in favour of the legalisation of cannabis are Ritchie Neville and Jason "J" Brown of boy band 5ive.

But the pair later said they had been "put on the spot" and they "absolutely do not condone or participate in drug use".

A recent survey of fans themselves has shown they are split on the subject.

A poll for NME magazine showed 51.5% of teenagers want drugs laws to be relaxed, while 46% have tried cannabis.