YOU’RE TALKING PANTS, PHILLIP
Carol’s fury at host after medical claim live on air
Carol Smillie has revealed she was furious with Phillip Schofield when he told TV viewers she had a weak bladder.
The former Changing Rooms host – who now markets a range of women’s waterproof underwear – was appearing on ITV’s This Morning. She was on the sofa to talk about the company she runs with ex-tennis star Annabel Croft.
The 55-year-old was discussing stress incontinence and revealed how she had an embarrassing one- off leak while bouncing on a trampoline.
Carol was left stunned during the chat in 2015, when Schofield told viewers she was incontinent.
She said: “Phillip Schofield decided to announce to the world I was incontinent.
“I was quietly seething but had to gently explain that was not actually the case. Let me get this straight. I am not incontinent, and I have never been incontinent.”
The mum of three who lives in Glasgow with her husband Alex Knight, said stress incontinence only happens when the body is under physical trauma and the pelvic floor muscles weaken.
Carol added: “It does not mean you’re one foot in the care home and smelling faintly of wee.”
The star managed to keep her cool with the TV host and said: “All I wanted to do was yell at the unfairness of it but I knew a lot of women watching might be incontinent and so I had to take a deep breath and point out the difference. I think that’s part of the problem, the media want to sensationalise.
“If you Google my name, it comes up with articles of me ‘confessing to my incontinence problem’ yet when you read the text, it’s clearly not true. That makes me mad.”
Carol added: “When we bought the trampoline, my kids wanted us all to join in, and so I bounded on. It was only when I’d been bouncing around for a few minutes, it occurred to me that the force of the jumping was drawing down on my bladder, and so I made a hasty exit.”
Carol founded Diary Doll in 2012 and the firm created a range of underwear with a hidden waterproof panel.
She told BT.com: “I have two teenage daughters who were worried about leaking during their period. I was amazed there was nothing pretty and washable on the market, so that’s how it all started.
“The name Diary Doll was a nod to the monthly diary marker when your period was due. Very quickly it became apparent our customers were also buying for post-maternity and small bladder leaks.”
A This Morning spokeswoman said: “Carol was praised by the hosts on talking about her own experiences and in doing so encouraging women to discuss the matter more.”
It does not mean you are in the care home and smelling faintly of wee