Gail Porter ‘rejected’ from Celebrity First Dates: ‘A bloke’s ideal woman probably isn’t bald or short’

Former presenter says she is ready for a relationship

Gail Porter has said she was turned down by the Channel 4 show Celebrity First Dates.

The former TV presenter, model and actor, 50, is looking for a relationship but claimed she was not chosen to feature on the celebrity version of the dating show, which has previously featured Blue’s Duncan James and Towie’s Joey Essex.

“I love First Dates,” she told The Sun. “Me and my daughter are addicted. But they didn’t choose me. I don’t think I was right. When they ask a bloke about their ideal woman, they probably don’t say bald or short.” In 2005, Porter lost her hair after developing alopecia. She decided not to wear a hat or a wig to raise awareness of the condition.

She added: “I’m cracking on a bit. I’m not the most beautiful person you’ve ever seen. But then I always think I’m not good enough. I could not think of anything nicer than having a hug every single night.”

Porter was married to Toploader guitarist Dan Hipgrave between 2001 and 2006. They share a daughter named Honey.

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Before that, she was in a relationship with Prodigy frontman Keith Flint from 1999 to 2001.

Flint, who died by suicide in 2019, struggled with mental health throughout his life, and Porter told Louis Theroux’s Grounded podcast that the pair were linked by their respective “issues”. Porter was diagnosed with bipolar in the early 2000s.

The Independent has contacted Channel 4 for comment.