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

The former presenter of 'This Morning' says the incident occurred while she worked for Television South

Fern Britton (Getty Images)

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

The former presenter of This Morning said the incident allegedly occurred while she was working for Television South in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

"I remember doing a television show when I worked for TVS. I was in a lift with a man I'd just interviewed," The 61-year-old told The Daily Express.

"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.

"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."

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

Britton found fame presenting Ready Steady Cook in the early 1990s. She was later host of This Morning for 10 years, leaving the show 2009. In 2012, she took part in Strictly Come Dancing.

She is currently starring in a touring stage production of Calendar Girls.