The Chop: Father of contestant still alive - after he said 88 Nazi symbol was tribute to year he died

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Sky said the symbolism was “entirely incidental”, adding that amongst the various numerical tattoos on Mr Lumsden’s body, the number 88 etched onto his cheek represents the yea 1988, “the year of his father’s death”. I’m alive and kicking so I’m not dead yet.” Trevor, who lives in Bristol – the same city Darren lives in – told the newspaper he did not know about his son’s tattoos or that he was appearing on television, but added: “But if they are saying I’m dead I’d like them to know I’m not.” The carpenter’s father said he suffers from short-term memory loss due to a brain injury he sustained in a motorbike accident and has a support worker, who declined to be named, visiting him every day. Sky initially attempted to deflect the growing outrage at the contestant’s body art by defending it and said in a statement: “Darren’s tattoos denote significant events in his life and have no political and ideological meaning whatsoever.” The channel insisted its production team carried out “extensive background checks” on all contestants and confirmed Darren had no links to “racist groups, views or comments”. Sky later said the clip had been pulled and future episodes of The Chop would not be broadcast until the “nature and meaning of Darren’s tattoos” have been fully investigated.