Steph McGovern reveals she felt dismissed as ‘fat’ when she started her TV career because she was female and had her northern accent

Steph McGovern has revealed that she felt dismissed as “fat” when she started her TV career.

The 41-year-old Steph’s Packed Lunch presenter – who worked as an engineer before becoming a business journalist and producer for the BBC – admitted she was written off because she’s a woman and because of her Northeast accent.

However, she shared how the attitude towards her only made her determined to prove people wrong.

She told Prima magazine, “People underestimated me in the past, especially when I was a business journalist interviewing CEOs. They would automatically assume I was there to make the tea or that I was fat.

“But it got me thinking, ‘I’m going to show you! To anyone who lacks self-confidence right now or is afraid that his background is holding him back, I’d like to say, “Actually, it’s your superpower.”

Career: The Steph’s Packed Lunch presenter, 41, – who worked as an engineer before becoming a business journalist and producer for the BBC – admitted she was written off because she’s female and because of her Northeastern accent

The star insisted her colleagues weren’t “mean” to her, but she knew her working-class background gave her a different outlook on life that they couldn’t relate to.

However, Steph realized this was a great advantage and she encourages others in her position not to feel like they have to change themselves.

She added: ‘In the beginning I felt like I really stood out at the BBC. No one was mean to me, but I felt unusual because of my background.’

“I’d suggest stories — like the fact that people in poorer areas had to rent TVs — and I’d know that people secretly thought, ‘That’s not happening.’

A former business reporter, Steph spent eight years at BBC Breakfast before fronting Channel 4’s daily lunchtime show, Steph’s Packed Lunches.

She lives in the North East of England with her TV executive girlfriend and their two-year-old daughter.

She previously told The Daily Mail about her outlook on life: ‘The main motivator for me is authenticity. Always try to stay true to yourself while remembering that no one is better or worse than you.

“Treat absolutely everyone the same and you’ll be fine.” I have friends from all walks of life and of all ages and I value them all equally.

Hurtful: She told Prima magazine, “People underestimated me in the past, especially when I was a business journalist interviewing CEOs. They would automatically assume I was there to make the tea or that I was fat’

Strong: However, she shared how the attitude towards her only made her determined to prove people wrong

“It would never occur to me that I was somehow better than anyone else because I’m on television. This was whispered to me at my public school in Middlesbrough, where we were taught that we all have gifts and that we are all equal.

“It was a difficult area. A boy’s father was a hit man; another’s was a professional burglar.

“But both guys did really well in life with brilliantly valuable jobs that put mine to shame.

“Each member of my team at work is just as important as the next person. There is no hierarchy.

“The runner of the show is valued as much as I am. In the same way, titles or wealth are absolutely irrelevant in my opinion.

“My parents weren’t pushy on me and I’m not going to be with my daughter. The only thing I want to force on her is that she has to be nice and work hard. I don’t care if she’s top of the class. I just want her to be happy.”

Successful: Steph, a former business reporter, spent eight years at BBC Breakfast before fronting Channel 4’s daily lunchtime show, Steph’s Packed Lunch

Other: The star insisted her colleagues weren’t “mean” to her, but she knew her working-class background gave her a different outlook on life that they couldn’t relate to