Children’s TV icon Gail Porter admits fear of facing homelessness again after previous bankruptcy
Gail Porter has revealed that she still has a fear of becoming homeless after finding herself with nowhere to live earlier on in her career. The TV presenter, who began her career on Children’s BBC Scotland, Top of the Pops, Children in Need and The Big Breakfast, appeared on Good Morning Britain today to speak about her work with Prince William on Homewards – his homelessness charity.
Speaking to hosts Adil Ray and Charlotte Hawkins, Gail admitted that she still fears that she could find herself with nowhere to live after facing homelessness in the past. “I’m very aware of it because it can happen to any of us, any time.
“I still have that fear that it can just take a bad turn and you haven’t got enough savings. It can happen to anyone,” she said.
Gail has opened up about struggling with homelessness over the last few years, with the TV presenter revealing that she was forced to sleep rough after being declared bankrupt in 2017.
“My money problems have just snowballed and I’ve had nowhere to turn,” she told The Sun at the time.
“No one knew. I was too embarrassed to tell anyone I was homeless. I had nowhere to go, so I spent a couple of nights outdoors.”
Opening up about her work with Prince William, Gail said on the show: “I’ve got 100 percent in it because it’s the most I’ve seen happen about homelessness since I was homeless.
“He’s just been such a strong advocate and because of his position in our country and all of the world, I think other people from other countries are asking about Homewards,” she added.
“He works very hard and it’s just an absolute pleasure.”
She added that she was considered to be one of the “invisible homeless” as she was sleeping on sofas and in friends’ spare rooms.
“I just felt a little bit useless and I was applying for jobs – I’d go to the bookshop or the library and they’d go, ‘Are you Gail Porter? Are you alright?'”
Last year, Gail revealed that she was pulling out of Edinburgh’s Fringe Festival over the costs of accommodation in the city.
“Was so excited to go the @edfringe this year”, she penned, “but I have been priced out by the soaring costs of B&Bs. My home town.”
Gail then added: “I feel so sorry for new young performers that won’t be able to afford accommodation. I’m gutted Edinburgh has done this. Greed is awful.”
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