Gail Porter claims Katie Price mocked her hair loss by cruelly saying she ‘used to be pretty’ before her battle with alopecia

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Gail Porter says Katie Price made fun of how she looked after losing her hair to alopecia.

The 55-year-old presenter unexpectedly developed alopecia in 2005, a condition where the body’s immune system attacks hair follicles. This led to a decline in her television work.

She’s now publicly claimed that TV personality Katie, 47, made a cruel joke about her hair loss when she met a boyfriend through Katie’s introduction.

According to The Sun, Gail made this statement while commenting on a trailer released by Sky TV for Katie Price’s new documentary, ‘Katie Price: Nothing to Hide’.

She wrote in the comments, sharing that someone introduced her to one of their boyfriends and then made a rude comment about her appearance, saying she ‘used to be pretty when she had hair’ and suggesting people Google her. She ended with a sarcastic ‘Thanks.’

Her story shocked her followers, quickly gaining lots of likes and sympathetic comments. One person wrote, “That must have been terrible for you. I hope you’re doing alright,” and another reassured her, “I’m so sorry she said that! You’re beautiful.”

Katie’s new four-part series on Sky will give viewers an honest and comprehensive look at everything – both the positive and negative aspects – surrounding the topic.

This documentary features never-before-seen video and brand new interviews, offering a fresh and insightful look at a beloved British celebrity.

In a preview of the new show, the mother of five is heard wondering aloud: ‘Should we begin with the positive things, the negative things, or the really difficult stuff?’

The first ten years were great, but things became more challenging after that. I’m being honest and open about everything, and I have no secrets. Feel free to talk to anyone about me.

Oh my gosh, Gail! Like Katie, she was HUGE in the 90s! I used to rush home to watch her on Top Of The Pops and The Big Breakfast – she was so vibrant and funny! And then, well, let’s be honest, she was everywhere – all the lads’ mags couldn’t get enough of her. I clipped out every article, of course!

After her marriage to Toploader guitarist Dan Hipgrave ended, Gail experienced hair loss due to alopecia in 2005 while she was filming in the United States.

She explained that the hair loss started suddenly. Over just four weeks, she lost clumps of her long blonde hair, along with her eyelashes and eyebrows, while she was sleeping.

She became well-known for refusing to wear wigs, explaining that she wanted to be true to herself. However, she soon found that job opportunities became scarce.

She explained to Closer that the television industry prioritizes appearance. ‘I’m not traditionally pretty, and I’ve lost my hair,’ she said, ‘which meant I’d sometimes be offered jobs, but then the offers would disappear.’

The celebrity shared on the Sacrifice and Success podcast that their career suffered after a change in appearance, explaining that opportunities dried up because people didn’t recognize them anymore. They felt it impacted their personality as well.

Someone asked if I’d consider wearing a wig, and I told them no, I don’t want to. That’s just my preference.

After her TV career ‘just stopped’, Gail was left homeless and without money.

She explained that she was getting divorced and had no income, which ultimately led to her losing her home. Things quickly deteriorated from there.

‘Things like, what do you do? Do I drink? I’ve got no clue whatsoever, I don’t take drugs so…’

She remembered a time when her phone had no credit, leaving her unable to reach anyone.

She continued, wondering what she’d do if she found a pound. She thought she might try to find another one so she could buy a small bottle of wine from the local shop – one of the smaller, single-serving sizes.

‘Anything for comfort. I was freezing as well, because I was outside.’

In 2011, she faced a difficult time, struggling with anorexia, postpartum depression, and a new bipolar diagnosis.

Gail was taken away in a police van and admitted to a psychiatric unit, where she was held against her will for almost a month.

After battling depression, anorexia, and self-harm, the presenter reached a very difficult low point in 2014 when a surprise tax bill caused severe financial hardship.

Gail admitted on the show Loose Women in 2017 that she used to avoid dealing with her bills. Instead of opening and paying them, she would simply hide them under her pillow.

‘I ran away from everything and things got worse. They weren’t huge bills.’

Gail spent time sofa surfing and even a brief spell rough sleeping in London’s Hampstead Heath. 

She has said that her daughter, Honey – whom she shares with her former husband, Dan – inspired her to get help and turn her life around, as she eventually sought treatment.

Let me tell you, going through a tough time and admitting you need help was one of the bravest things I ever did. I actually sought treatment for my depression and, honestly, for self-harming tendencies. It sounds dramatic, but I truly believe my dog, Honey, saved my life. One hundred percent. I wouldn’t be here today without her. The thought of what that would do to my daughter kept me going, and I knew I couldn’t put her through that pain.

In 2020, Gail shared that she’d stopped looking for a partner, explaining that losing her hair had damaged her self-confidence and made her feel uncomfortable with dating.

She said she’s open to dating, but feels like it probably won’t happen, and she’s accepted the idea of spending the rest of her life with her cat, as she told Closer magazine.

I’m dealing with hair loss, and it’s made me feel insecure about dating. While I’d really like to find a partner, I struggle with feeling attractive. Losing my hair definitely knocked my confidence, but I’m still a positive and happy person.

Gail shared that her daughter is a constant source of happiness and encouragement. She explained that her daughter frequently tells her she’ll find a boyfriend, but Gail usually dismisses it with a playful ‘Oh, whatever’.

Television personality Jenni Falconer married Dan Hipgrave, guitarist for the band Toploader, in August 2001. They had a daughter, Honey, in 2002, but separated in 2005.

Before marrying, Gail dated Keith Flint from the band The Prodigy for two years, from 1999 to 2001. She would later describe him as ‘the love of her life’.

It was such a shock to hear about the singer’s passing back in 2019. He was only 49 years old and found at his home on March 4th. Sadly, reports later revealed he had a combination of substances in his system – cocaine, alcohol, and codeine. It’s a really heartbreaking reminder of how easily things can spiral, and a tragedy for his family, friends, and fans.

After an investigation into his death, the coroner couldn’t determine whether it was a suicide or an accident due to a lack of evidence, and therefore recorded an open verdict.

Gail recently posted a heartfelt message remembering her former boyfriend on the anniversary of his passing.

The TV star shared a thoughtful selfie with a caption expressing a wish to go back in time, writing: ‘If only I could turn back time’.

Oh my god, she said it! I was watching her interview with Louis Theroux, and she just… she confessed! She said Keith was the love of her life! It was so raw and honest, she clearly still adores him and misses him terribly. It just breaks my heart, but it’s also… beautiful, you know? I always knew it, but to hear her say it… it’s everything.

I was single at the time, and we had a fantastic first date – we laughed non-stop all night. We ended up together for almost two years after that.

It was nice because we avoided talking about work and just focused on having fun together.

Gail explained that she was working on a show called ‘Wish You Were Here’ when she received an invitation to visit the Maldives. She and Keith went, but he experienced some difficulties while they were there.

When Louis asked if Keith had struggled with his mental health, she responded that while he had some difficult moments, he was doing much better towards the end. He was swimming and going to the gym regularly, and both of them were in really good mental shape.

Naturally, everyone will be thrilled to hear you’re in the Maldives! We felt so fortunate to go, and when we returned, we both agreed it was time to get back to work.

He just couldn’t seem to regain his focus. I tried to stay positive and encourage him, but it didn’t help. He was really feeling down, and despite my best efforts, things didn’t improve – it was disappointing.

She admitted they both had their struggles, explaining, ‘I always expected we’d go through difficult periods at different times, and sadly, that’s how things played out.’

If you need to talk, Samaritans are available around the clock, every day of the year. You can reach them for free and confidential support by calling 116 123 or visiting their website at www.samaritans.org.

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2026-04-30 15:52