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Fern Britton reveals she was sexually assaulted by a man she had just interviewed

Fern Britton (Credit: PA)

Broadcaster Fern Britton has revealed that she was once sexually assaulted in a lift by a man that she had just interviewed on television.

The 61-year-old former This Morning presenter said that the incident occurred early on in her career, while working for Television South in the late 80s and early 90s.

“I remember doing a television show when I worked for TVS. I was in a lift with a man I’d just interviewed,” she told The Daily Mirror.

“He suddenly jumped me and started snogging me. I asked him what on earth he thought he was doing. But it didn’t seem to shame him into stopping.”

She went on: “The fact remains the most privileged person on the planet is still the white male.

“But unless they can feel as uncomfortable as single women do walking home at night in the dark or getting into a taxi alone, there’s always going to be that gap in understanding.

“Is the pendulum beginning to swing back in the other direction? Yes, it is. But there’s still a long way to go.”

Britton has recently made a move into acting, appearing in the stage adaptation of Calendar Girls, though her role is among those that does not require nudity.

Asked whether she would have considered the role if it did, she said that she would.

“I would now I’ve seen the way it’s handled. It’s very discreet and very funny,” she said.

“The male stagehands at each theatre are so respectful. There are a lot of breasts running around but the boys look the other way.”

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