In a deeply personal documentary, 'Being Gail Porter', the former TV presenter reveals the key moments in her battle with depression, self-harm and anorexia. The 1990s poster girl, known for her bubbly personality and high-profile marriage to an indie rock guitarist, has faced a dramatic fall from fame.
Porter recounts how her mental health struggles led to divorce, hair loss and financial ruin, culminating in her being sectioned for 28 days in a London hospital in 2011. 'In 1999 I was presenting the country's top music show... but the celebrity fairytale became a nightmare,' she says.
The documentary explores pivotal moments, including the loss of her hair to alopecia totalis, which she says ended her TV career overnight, and the infamous FHM stunt where a 60-foot naked image of her was projected onto the Houses of Parliament without her consent. 'People thought it was a career move. It absolutely wasn't. I knew nothing about it,' she explains.
Porter travels to her hometown of Edinburgh to meet friends, relatives and medical professionals, seeking to understand her emotional extremes. 'It's only now I feel able to face up to what I've been through,' she admits, hoping her story can help others.
