Political enemies attack TV geek

Young Liberal Party members have launched an anonymous smear campaign intended to bring down Beauty and the Geek contestant Toby Latcham.

While Latcham, 21, was basking in the glory of a TV nerd makeover this week, his colleagues at the University of Queensland's Liberal Club were busy sending out pictures of him drunk and in his underwear.

A Latcham "dirt file" has also been circulated with damaging claims about the reality contestant's political views.

Latcham, a medical research ethicist who is also studying for three university degrees simultaneously, appears on the Seven Network's series as a socially inept geek who has never been kissed.

He speaks with an upper-class accent and has a penchant for wearing dinner suits.

But those who know him from student political circles claim his TV persona is all an act.

"The Toby as seen on Beauty and the Geek is not the real Toby," one colleague who refused to be named told ninemsn.

"Toby doesn't speak with a British gentleman's accent, he's putting on a show for the cameras, that's for sure.

"He might be portrayed as a lovelorn and emotionally inexperienced young man who just needs a bit of help ... but the reality is that Toby is a conservative young Liberal with far-right views that no self-respecting girl would go near."

Screenshots purporting to be of Latcham's now deleted Facebook page appear in the dirt file.

In one of the mildest comments attributed to Latcham, he apparently describes himself as a "heartless economic rationalist".

"Toby has made many enemies, both personal and political, over the years, and now he has remade himself ... into a public figure, all those from his past would like to see the truth revealed," Latcham's colleague said.

When contacted by ninemsn, Latcham said he was aware of the material and that it was "all a fabrication".

"There's no truth to any of it ... this has been going on for months after there was a split in the [Young Liberal] club," he said.

Latcham declined to comment on the allegations further, saying he was not allowed to give interviews the Seven Network had not authorised.

But Latcham did deny he was faking his "British" accent.

"I don't have a British accent, this is just how I speak .... I don't understand it, how should I speak?" he said.

The Seven Network's publicity department has also shut up shop on the geek controversy, denying ninemsn's official request for an interview with Latcham.