Scarlett Moffatt has revealed she “often” used to phone the Samaritans after facing a wave of online abuse.

The former Gogglebox star has repeatedly spoken out about the trolling she has endured during her time in the public eye, and the effect that this has had on her.

In a new interview with Grazia magazine, Scarlett explained that she “could never have imagined” how hard it would be for her, and the scrutiny she would face, as a “woman in the public eye”.

“I thought celebrities lived in a different world, I took everything the tabloids printed as gospel, and I barely even used social media,” she told the magazine, about her life before fame.

“But, in 2017, three years after I’d been catapulted into the public eye, I was in the darkest place of my life, feeling completely alone and often ringing Samaritans when things got really bad.” 

Scarlett joined Twitter in 2014, shortly after joining Gogglebox, and said she immediately became inundated with “really horrible” messages branding her “ugly, fat and stupid”.

She recalled: “The more popular I was getting on TV and in the press, the more unpopular I was getting on social media.

“I was being trolled way more, with people attacking the way I look, speak, dress – you name it.

“I remember after the second episode of Saturday Night Takeaway aired, there were thousands of comments about how bad my teeth were. That got to me most, because I was so insecure about my teeth as a child.”

The I’m A Celebrity winner said that as things “spiralled out of control” for her, she would “ring the Samaritans, give a fake name and rant for 15 minutes”. 

“Talking to someone who didn’t know me or judge me helped,” Scarlett added.

“Eventually, I broke down in front of my mum and told her how I was feeling. I ended up seeing a therapist for a year.”

Earlier this month, Scarlett shared a defiant message of body-positivity in response to the trolling she’s faced.

“2020 is the year I feel like a boss & I’m not afraid to say it,” she wrote. “I’m taking ownership for my body and not apologising to anyone who thinks my looks aren’t ‘good enough for them’.”

Read Scarlett’s full interview in the new issue of Grazia.

Useful websites and helplines:

• Mind, open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on 0300 123 3393
• Samaritans offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on 116 123 (UK and ROI – this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill.)
• The Mix is a free support service for people under 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email: help@themix.org.uk
• Rethink Mental Illness offers practical help through its advice line which can be reached on 0300 5000 927 (open Monday to Friday 10am-4pm). More info can be found on www.rethink.org.