Sarah-Jane Honeywell was recognisable in many households as she starred alongside Justin Fletcher – otherwise known as Mr Tumble – on CBeebies.
Passionate about her job, Sarah-Jane loved working with young people and wanted to pursue other passions in her life too, including a campaign with animal rights group PETA – which ultimately saw her lose her job.
Sarah-Jane has been open about her struggles after she was let go from the BBC, revealing that she had suicidal thoughts and was in £100,000 worth of debt.
Reflecting on the experience, she remains baffled that she lost her job, questioning why she was left unable to work after posing in her knickers.
(Image: PA Archive/Press Association Images)
Speaking to The Sun, she said: “I don’t understand why, as a woman, you can lose your job for posing in your knickers. How many male stars have abused their partners or taken drugs, but are still presenting?”
She added: “The world can be very unforgiving if you’re a female in the public eye.”
In the campaign, Sarah-Jane was photographed on a giant plate alongside some fake chips, peas and tomato ketchup for World Vegan Day in 2011.
Her hands covered her breasts as she posed in just her underwear, and shortly after, the BBC issued a statement to say she was no longer working for them.
(Image: BBC)
Sarah told the publication that the statement was how she found out that she had been axed after 10 years, adding: “I was completely devastated that the career I loved was over.”
She explained how there was a Facebook group titled “I hate Sarah-Jane Honeywell” after the photos were released as she was targeted by online trolls.
Over the years her work continued to dry up, which saw her get into debt of £100,000 on her credit card and years later, in 2015, she began to feel suicidal.
Sarah-Jane was pregnant with her first child at the time, which stopped her from attempting to take her own life after she thought about jumping in front of a train.
(Image: BBC)
She explained how she took herself to sit on a wall to calm down and was badly shaken, but it encouraged her to get counselling and focus on making herself well.
Sarah-Jane now has two children with her husband Ayden Callaghan, and says that she is now “so much wiser” and is finally happy.
Her focus is simply on her husband and their children and ensuring that their family life is happy and healthy.
Daily Star Online has approached the BBC for comment.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
