PILGRIMAGE: THE ROAD TO SANTIAGO

NEIL Morrissey has two barely seen tattoos which are a haunting reminder of his troubled childhood.

The Men Behaving Badly actor was sent to a care home when he was 10 years old.

He was taken from his parents after becoming a bit of a tearaway, landing in trouble with police for breaking and entering and theft.

And, as a terrified young lad, he was pounced on by older kids as he arrived at the home.

They scratched “Neil” on his left arm and the symbol of TV series The Saint on his right arm, using Indian ink and an old needle.

Morrissey opens up about the tattoos on the new BBC show, saying: “I was taken to a kids’ home. There was no goodbye to my parents. No hugs. No kisses. No goodbyes. These tattoos that I have were put on that day. Big boys of 16 and 17 did them.”

The star admits that the traumatic experience of being put into care left its mark.

He said: “You are better off just dealing with it and talking about it because it is just a story.” ¬

Pilgrimage – featuring Debbie McGee and Ed Byrne walking the 26km Camino de Santiago – starts Friday on BBC One at 9pm.