Melanie Sykes has revealed that she felt like she was “thrown under the bus” by the TV industry, which she described as a “horror story” in her candid new book.
In her autobiography Illuminated: Autism & All The Things I’ve Left Unsaid, the host, 52, who ran shows like Today with Des and Mel and The Big Breakfast after rising to fame in the 90s, describes her “gruesome” experiences.
She has told how after a series of sexist and scary incidents – including one where a colleague stared at her skirt during filming – she collapsed.
Just before the breakdown, she was diagnosed with autism and finally decided to retire from mainstream TV after appearing on Celebrity MasterChef in 2021.
Speak against The protector of her autobiography, she said, “I will no longer tap dance for companies that cannot care about my well-being. Mainstream TV just doesn’t interest me… I’m out of that game.’
Honest: Melanie Sykes has revealed she felt like she was ‘thrown under the bus’ by the TV industry, describing what she described as ‘horror story’ in her candid new book
Speaking: She has told how after a series of sexist and scary incidents – including one where a colleague stared at her skirt during filming – she collapsed (in 1998)
In her book, she revealed a particularly disturbing story when she took part in a New Year’s Eve special, but while she was filming, a colleague lay on the floor staring up at her skirt.
She related the incident: “He thought it was funny. I was shocked and screamed. He got up and I threw a drink over him. It’s all caught on camera.’
She later realized when the show aired that it was edited so that they didn’t use the footage of him, just the part where she “lost it” so she looked “crazy.”
In another story, she said that on the night she accepted her Royal Television Society award in 2013, she kept getting hit by a TV personality who wouldn’t leave her alone.
She claims he grabbed her breasts and was a “complete plague” that made her “feel sick.”
Melanie also shared that she was harassed by an elderly photographer when she was just 18 during a shoot in Africa.
She claims he “cuddled up to her in bed” before eventually leaving her alone.
All the while she was dealing with undiagnosed autism and, as a result, drank too much to cope.
Candid: In her autobiography Illuminated: Autism & All The Things I’ve Left Unsaid, the presenter, 52, describes her ‘horrific’ experiences
Stars: She fronted shows like Today with Des and Mel (pictured) and The Big Breakfast after she rose to fame in the 90s
Tough: In one story, she said that on the night she accepted her Royal Television Society award in 2013, she kept getting touched by a TV personality who wouldn’t leave her alone
As an example of being “thrown under the bus,” she shared how she filmed a game show starring TOWIE star Mark Wright that was then canceled due to TV gambling rules.
But in the press release about the show’s cancellation, she claims the reason given was that she and “didn’t understand the concept of the game” — which left her “fuming.”
She finally decided to retire from TV after participating in Celebrity MasterChef in 2021.
Speaking of her experience in the industry in general, she said, “Women asking for certain boundaries can be misinterpreted as difficult. A lot of men ask what they want, which is great, but we should be allowed the same courtesy.
It is our right to equality. But if you challenge their status quo, you’re considered a problem.”
She added that men don’t talk to other men the way they talk to women or they would be “slapped on the nose.” adding that some men “save” their anger and fear and “unleash” it on women.
In February, Melanie revealed she would be publishing a tell-all book about the challenges she’s faced since being diagnosed with autism at age 51.
Sharing her diagnosis in 2021, the star said it’s been a “tough road” to understand “her neurodivergent mind and sensitivities,” but hopes writing about it can help others.
Melanie told it too The mirror that her book is about “fame, motherhood, self-medication and trauma,” and that she’s coming back from a “massive meltdown” following her autism diagnosis.
She said, “Getting a late diagnosis and having to learn about and understand my neurodivergent mind and sensitivities has indeed unlocked my happiness, but it has been a rocky road.
“Writing this book felt like performing open-heart surgery on myself at times, but I knew how necessary it was. I can now unapologetically and confidently send it out into the world because sharing all the wisdom my life has given me makes it all worth it.
Mel added that ‘her story is one of honesty, resilience and growth in the face of challenges. Alternately loud and cheerful, it is full of surprise, hope and calls to action.’
She also said she had wanted to write a book for a while, and her diagnosis “shone light” all my life, but it took time to loosen up.”
The beauty was diagnosed with autism in 2021 as her 18-year-old son Valentino has the same developmental disability.
Melanie has spoken openly about autism before, appearing on John Bishop’s podcast Three Little Words in April.
During the podcast, Melanie said she doesn’t see autism as a “disorder” and talked about how it “made perfect sense” when she was diagnosed.
She began: “My youngest son has autism and I have also been diagnosed with it. I’ve had to look at what it all means now, and it makes perfect sense.”
Comedian John then asked her if she had been diagnosed as a child, if she would have felt limited in what she could do in her life when it comes to forging a career in showbiz.
“There’s no room for autistic people in this world,” Melanie said, telling John that there was no “ideal” profession that would suit someone on the spectrum.
“This is another thing I’m going to change,” she explained. “Because there aren’t any segments of the population where it’s okay, people are still scratching their heads about autistic people and what it means.
“These people have so much to offer the world, I don’t see it as disorder at all. It’s just another wiring of yours,” the star added.
In September, Melanie opened up about recovering from a “massive slump” and being more raw about her struggles, noting that the world can feel “pretty brutal.”
She also described her battle with getting a medical cannabis prescription to help – admitting it was “a long time in coming” after seeking advice from multiple GPs.
Melanie talked openly to her 303,000 Instagram followers, sharing, “I wanted to talk to you about my week this week.
‘Something incredible finally happened, I tried to get a prescription for medical cannabis and finally got an appointment with some GPs who agreed that medical cannabis would help expose my autism.
“The more I unmask, get rid of my thick skin, and open up to other people, I’ve become even more sensitive than I already am.
“That’s why I experienced a lot of fear. Some of you will know that I was in the process of coming back from a huge slump, so I’m very happy. It’s going to be a huge experiment and hopefully it works for me, so let’s see.’
Moving on, the TV personality explained that she has been taking store-bought CBD oil for a number of years – always carrying an ‘SOS kit’ containing CBD products.
Melanie talked about her struggles with agoraphobia, the fear of entering open or crowded places, leaving the house or being in places where escape is difficult, and said that the SOS kit helps.
Horrible: In her book, she revealed a particularly disturbing story when she took part in a New Year’s Eve special, but while she was filming a co-worker lay on the floor staring up at her skirt
Back in the day: Melanie is pictured with Des O’Connor on their 90s show
Open: In February, Melanie revealed she would be publishing a telling book discussing the challenges she’s faced since being diagnosed with autism at age 51
‘I’ve been taking CBD oil for years, it really helped and there are so many on the market. I’ve tried quite a few and I use one called ‘Canamis’.
‘When I got agoraphobic I made an SOS kit with a paper bag, tissues and my prayer beads so I can do a meditation and some cannabis products.
“I need to take CBD oil in conjunction with my new prescription, so have the oil and also a CBD stress ball.
“I’ll keep you posted on how my prescription is going and how I’m doing — it’s really a whole new world, hopefully for me, to be able to function in the world that feels really pretty brutal to me.” Oh my God, it’s been a long time,’ Melanie concluded.