This Morning star Alison Hammond has got candid about being traumatised by being called elephant at school by bullies, so much so that she has a panic attack when she hears the word.
She also told how she had “heart palpitations” after seeing one of the animals on safari as she became worried that people would compare her to one.
Speaking to The Mirror, the 46-year-old presenter said: “It may sound crazy but whenever I hear the word ‘elephant’, it takes me back to being at school and the nasty comments the boys used to make about me.
“When I hear someone say ‘elephant’, I instantly think they must be talking about me. Anything to do with elephants sets it off.
She added: “I remember it happening when I was on safari once. Some elephants came into view and I had heart palpitations because I was worried that someone was going to say, ‘Alison, look! An elephant, like you’.”
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In her new book You’ve Got To Laugh, the brave TV star opened up about an incident at an awards bash where she mistakenly thought that Brian May was calling her an elephant.
Alison recalled she was at the ceremony busy gossiping with Big Brother star Kate Lawler and did not notice that the band were coming onstage to perform.
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Brian May interrupted them to ask them to turn the noise down so he could hear the band, and then got up to make a speech where he said: “Now there’s an elephant in the room”.
Alison mistakenly though the Queen star was talking about her, when in fact he was referring to something completely different.
She added: “I had a full-on panic he was going to start embarrassing me in front of everybody.
“I’m not sure what lesson I took away from that day, but I’m sure I’m not the only person who lives with PTSD dating back to their schooldays.”
Despite having to deal with the trauma, Alison has gone on to have an incredible TV career after finding fame on Big Brother, and now has propelled This Morning to record-breaking Friday figures alongside Dermot O’Leary.
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