TV

TV star tells Loose Women that she was sexually assaulted by her DOCTOR

She didn't realise she'd been abused at first

Former What Not To Wear star Susannah Constantine has become the latest celebrity to make allegations of sexual assault.

The 55-year-old Londoner appeared on Loose Women today to discuss her new novel, After The Snow.

But, as is often the way with the ITV show, the topic of conversation soon turned to something more serious – in this case, the recent sexual-harrassment accusations that have hounded Hollywood and Westminster.

And Susannah shocked the panellists by revealing that she was once abused by her doctor while having a back examination.

She began: “I only remembered this yesterday when thinking about the #MeToo campaign.

“I went to the doctor a while back because I had a problem with my lower back, and as part of the ‘treatment’ he put his finger up my vagina.

“It was with no warning. God, I hope my children aren’t watching this. Sorry, kids.

“I remember thinking: ‘This is a doctor, so this must be normal.’ But then I got home and thought it just wasn’t right.

Read more: Anne Robinson sparks outrage for “victim blaming” during debate about sexual harrassment

“I googled it and, no, you don’t have to have an internal examination for a bad back.”

But despite her shock, she told the panel – which included Nadia Sawalha, Andrea McLean, Stacey Solomon and Jane Moore – that she decided not to take the matter further.

Explained the former I’m A Celebrity contestant: “I didn’t say anything because I was in shock. You trust your doctor.

“For me, it’s water under the bridge and I just want to move on and not talk about it.”

Read more: Corrie’s Bruno Langley releases statement following ‘sacking’

The #MeToo campaign has seen more and more women – and some men – coming out with claims of sexual harrassment, abuse and even rape.

High-profile names who’ve been accused include Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey, Dustin Hoffman and Michael Fallon.

Fallon resigned as defence secretary yesterday following allegations that he’d made inappropriate advances towards a female journalist.

He later admitted that his behaviour towards women in the past had “fallen short”.


Nancy Brown
Associate Editor