Celeb Binge Blog

Batman actor Christian Bale attended the blockbuster premiere of The Dark Knight with the shadow of arrest and an allegedly violent family row hanging over him.

Police decided to let him attend the glittering bash just hours after his mum Jenny and sister Sharon accused him of assault.

But yesterday the British-born star was arrested after he voluntarily went to a London police station. Cops spent four hours grilling him over the assault claim before he was released on bail without charge. He denies the allegation.

Bale, 34, had booked his relatives into the five-star Dorchester Hotel in London’s West End so they could attend Monday night’s premiere. But they hurriedly left and returned home to Dorset on Monday morning, just hours after Sunday night’s alleged bust-up.

A hotel insider said: “There were no problems in any public areas. The family left very hurriedly and without saying much to each other, but the news about this so-called assault was a shock. Nobody here had a clue.”

Mum Jenny, 61 — a part-time clown — is said to have claimed she was pushed over during the row, which broke out in Bale’s suite when they returned after a meal at a restaurant. After Jenny and Sharon reported the alleged assault, police faced a dilemma over whether to arrest him before the premiere of the new Batman movie.

Bale was eventually allowed to walk down the red carpet with wife Sibi as adoring fans screamed his name.

He joined co-stars including Sir Michael Caine at the cinema in Leicester Square — but it is understood he knew that his relatives had fled and he faced arrest the next morning.

Detectives contacted his agent and Bale went to the police station in posh Belgravia just before noon yesterday.

The actor was given VIP treatment as his people carrier was allowed to sweep in through a back entrance, avoiding waiting photographers. But once inside Bale had his photo, fingerprints and a DNA saliva sample taken.

After being questioned for more than four hours, the Los Angeles-based star was released on bail pending further inquiries. He is due to report back to police in September.