Back in the day millions of children across the country would tune in to watch the bubbly Sarah-Jane Honeywell entertain the kids.
Alongside co-star Justin Fletcher, AKA Mr Tumble, the star hosted the shows Higgledy House and Mighty Mites in 2002.
However, years later in November 2011 everything tragically came tumbling down for the TV presenter after she took part in the animal rights group PETA’s campaign at the time.
It saw the star pose topless as she clutched at her breasts while laying on a giant plant coated in large food props.
The snap was taken in London’s busy Trafalgar Square and went on to cause chaos as the BBC immediately fired her.
Sarah-Jane Honeywell lies on a giant plate in Trafalgar Square, London to mark World Vegan Day today in 2011 (Image: PA Archive/Press Association Images)
During a chat with The Sun, Sarah-Jane recalled how it caused her to hit rock bottom and rack up over £100,000 worth of debt.
At the time, Sarah-Jane said she was devastated as it was her “dream job” and she “had so much fun every day, just trying to make kids laugh.”
She explained how at the time of the PETA picture she was on a filming break from the BBC so didn’t think she had to check with her bosses, as she says she wasn’t paid for the gig.
In the photo, Sarah-Jane can be seen almost naked other than a pair of nude knickers.
Sarah-Jane Honeywell on Tikkabilla – Cbeebies (Image: BBC)
After the cheeky snap emerged, more of her wearing a skimpy vest and pouring Diet Coke over her body seductively emerged.
Sarah-Janes claimed to the publication that she found out she had lost her job at the BBC via its statement at the time and “never” received a phone call from her bosses of 10 years.
The star said: “I was completely devastated that the career I loved was over.”
Sarah-Jane also claimed her co-star Justin dropped her like a hat after the photo and says she called and left him a message but he never responded to her.
Sarah-Jane Honeywell and Justin Fletcher in their CBeebies days (Image: BBC)
She said: “We were the best of mates, so that really hurt. I do understand it though, because as a children’s presenter he needs to protect his own image.”
She also said she was bombarded with abuse online at the time and over a period of three years racked up debts of £100,000 on her credit card.
Sarah-Jane told The Sun how when she was pregnant with her first child, she thought about jumping in front of a train but her pregnancy stopped her.
She said: “As I stood on the platform, I felt really dizzy and my legs were shaking. I had a really strong compulsion to jump in front of an oncoming train. It was that kind of urge you sometimes get with vertigo, and I thought that if I jumped, all the pain would stop.
“I wasn’t thinking logically about the effect it would have on Ayden or my family – I just wanted to stop feeling as if my heart was being ripped out.”
The star said due to the fact she had a baby scan a few days before she stood back and then walked home while shaken before she went on to turn around her life.
She now has two children, is happily married and runs a theatre school in Lincoln where she lives with her husband.
Daily Star Online has contacted the BBC for comment.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
