A Hampshire businessman may take legal action against the BBC in a bid to clear his name after being branded one of the UK's worst showbiz managers.

It is the second time West End-based model placement agency owners Brian Evans and Mark Vella have been singled out for prime time criticism after they were ranked at number three in a top ten of Britain's Scam artists in 2001.

Hampshire Trading Standards backs B&M management and says the BBC got it wrong.

Mr Evans, who jointly owns B&M and sister company Regardez model management, says he is consulting legal experts about suing the BBC.

"I am going to sue the BBC," he said. "I was gobsmacked when I saw it (the programme). How would you feel if someone said that about you on TV? I'm mad about it."

UK's Worst Showbiz Manager, which aired on September 1, suggested aspiring models were being unfairly charged an up-front fee of £159 at hotel seminar recruitment sessions. The cash was refundable if a model agency didn't sign them within 12 months. But, one of the agencies B&M sent models to was sister company Regardez.

The programme did not say the refund is still payable even if models are signed by Regardez.

Mr Evans, who runs Regardez from the back of another of his businesses, Gossip Hairdressers in West End High Street, says the £159 fee is for taking photographs and that if people have their own, they can get on his books for free.

The show said Mr Evans and partner Mark Vella had made £450,000 out of the scheme, which they deny.

"My missus was a bit cross about that," he said. "This is my business and I've been doing it for nine years now. If they had conducted a proper investigation and talked to us, we wouldn't have featured. I can't understand why they attacked us. We've got thousands of satisfied clients."

Trading standards manager Jon Whale said: "We are disappointed that the programme did not accurately reflect the services these companies provide for their customers.

"Both businesses have worked with Trading Standards over a number of years to make their terms and conditions as clear and fair as possible. Regardez has also achieved membership of our 'Buy with Confidence' scheme, which means they carry our badge of approval. We are happy that they continue to meet the standards we expect from members of the scheme."

Producer of the UK's Worst series Sean Taylor said simply: "We stand by the story."