We've had a commenter here say they've communicated with Charles by email and he contradicts that theory entirely.

The even-minded, intellectual part of me goes "well, if he says so, we should take him at his word, and it's not like there needs to be anything else to make this series terrible anyway"

The spiteful drama-loving part of me goes "He's totally covering because this is embarrassing and he doesn't want to be known for talking badly about his former employers but I bet it still happened!"

I can't really seem to pick, alas.