Featured Image Credit: Instagram/@laura.adlington/Channel 4
Topics: Celebrity, TV And Film, Health
Lucy Devine
Topics: Celebrity, TV And Film, Health
Great British Bake Off star Laura Adlington says she felt suicidal after she appeared on the Channel 4 baking show, where she was cruelly attacked by online trolls over her weight.
Speaking about the abuse, Laura, 32 - who appeared on the 2020 series of the show - explained how it became particularly unbearable on the week of the final.
"When it was all really kicking off was on the week of the final. People were just being awful and it was really personal stuff as well," she explained to Em Clarkson and Alex Light on the Should I Delete That? podcast.
"It was personal stuff like infertility and other personal things. People were saying things like 'It was no wonder you can't have a baby'.
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"It just got really bad. I remember thinking, not I want to kill myself, but I remember crying in bed and being like, this would just be so much easier if I was not here, if I did not exist. That was a really low point for me."
Laura explained that after the show, she 'lost her confidence' due to all the negativity.
"I think after Bake Off, I really lost my confidence, because there was so much horribleness around it," she said
"And someone gave me some really bad advice, saying stay on Twitter because you might get work from it. But it was so bad for my mental health. It was awful."
Speaking about her experience, Laura also claimed she never received any 'promised support' from the show.
“We filmed Bake Off in a heatwave. I was seven weeks away from home. I was honestly mentally and physically exhausted," she added.
“We didn’t really have any support from the counsellors that they promised or anything and by the end of the filming, I was literally [left feeling] like I’m done. I don’t even want to do it."
Laura is now on a mission to help people all of shapes and sizes feel confident in their own skin. She also launched her Go Love Yourself Podcast earlier this year.
In January, Laura discussed how she had worn a bikini on the beach for the first time ever, while on holiday in Mexico with her husband Matt.
"Today I wore a bikini on the beach for the first time ever," she said.
"And, for the first time in my entire life, I can honestly say I feel at peace with my body, instead of at war with it.
"It’s not a perfect body but it’s mine, and I want to feel the sun on it."
Tyla has reached out to Channel 4 for comment.
A spokesperson said: “The welfare of the bakers is paramount and support is provided throughout the process and beyond.
“Whilst filming in the covid secure bubble, support was constantly available to all the bakers, including from professionals over zoom and the phone.”