Janet Street Porter tells Rebecca Humphries to ‘get a grip’ over Seann Walsh cheating scandal

'We’re already bored'

Janet Street Porter has criticised Rebecca Humphries for writing an open letter urging women not to stay in controlling relationships after photos emerged of the actor’s boyfriend, Seann Walsh, kissing his partner from BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing.

Speaking on Loose Women, the TV host and journalist interrupted her colleague Ruth Langsford, who was reading the letter aloud.

She went on to edit the letter live on air, scribbling bits out and making her own suggestions.

In the actual letter, which has gone viral online, Humphries recalls sitting at home alone on her birthday while Walsh and his dancing partner, Katya Jones, were out together enjoying what he described as "one innocent drink”.

“We spoke and I told him, not for the first time, that his actions over the past three weeks had led me to believe something inappropriate was going on,” she writes.

“He aggressively, and repeatedly, called me a psycho/nuts/mental. As he has done countless times throughout our relationship when I’ve questioned his inappropriate, hurtful behaviour."

The letter concludes with Humphries insisting that she is “a strong, capable person who is now free; and no victim.”

Langsford began the Loose Women discussion by reading the statement out on air.

“Ruth, Ruth, Ruth, we’re already bored,” Porter interjected, midway through, proceeding to show her own heavily-edited version of Humphries’ statement.

“I’m a former newspaper editor and we discussed this earlier and I went ‘get a grip girl’,’ she said.

“Now if she had brought this copy into my newspaper office – this is what I did to her statement.”

A close-up shot of the letter, which has been widely praised online for its candour, shows that Porter has crossed out the majority of it.

Porter’s suggested edits read: “I am mad as hell, I am cross, I was stupid and naive.

“I suspected he was up to something. I should have hung up and gone out to celebrate.

“My message to other women is you are better!”

In the actual letter, Humphries recalls sitting at home alone on her birthday while Walsh and his dancing partner, Katya Jones, were out together enjoying what he described as "one innocent drink”.

“We spoke and I told him, not for the first time, that his actions over the past three weeks had led me to believe something inappropriate was going on,” she writes.

“He aggressively, and repeatedly, called me a psycho/nuts/mental. As he has done countless times throughout our relationship when I’ve questioned his inappropriate, hurtful behaviour."

The letter concludes with Humphries insisting that she is “a strong, capable person who is now free; and no victim.”

Langsford, who has been a contestant on Strictly herself, argued that Walsh and Jones should not be removed from the show for their actions, as some have suggested, saying that “these things happen”.

“And I think these things shine a light on your relationship," she continued, "and if you’re not in a happy and good relationship you could be tempted.”

Porter responded: “You managed to resist,” referencing the fact that the TV host didn't end up kissing her dance partner while she was on the show.

When the incriminating photos of Walsh and Jones were published on Sunday, the actor tweeted an apology for his behaviour, writing:

“In light of the story in today's newspaper I would like to offer my sincere apologies for my actions.

“This is no excuse but it was a one-off drunken mistake which I am truly sorry for.”

He has yet to issue a public response to Humphries’ letter.

Porter has been criticised on Twitter for her comments, with some people arguing that the TV presenter had "belittled" Humphries.

"You ought to be ashamed in yourself," wrote one person.

"You have no idea the hurt that Rebecca Humphries is going through and you decide to mock her?"

Another person responded by describing Porter as "emotionally suppressed" in light of her comments.

However, not everyone was critical, with one person writing: "Just agreed with Janet Street Porter," alongside a meme of a woman gasping in shock.