Backshall: My bullying hell

It ruined school says TV naturalist

NATURALIST and TV presenter Steve Backshall has told how he endured horrific bullying at school.

Recalling the ordeal for the first time in 20 years, he admitted it affected his confidence growing up.

Steve, best known for the BBC’s Springwatch and Deadly 60 wildlife programme, said it began when three one-time friends stole his mum’s car.

He went on: “I was away with my family when they broke in, took the car and crashed it into a wall.

“They denied all responsibility then tried to suggest it was my idea. It led to quite prolonged and intensive bullying, where I got some proper kickings. And for a year or so I was pretty miserable and going into school was not easy.”

The 47-year-old said the bullying in his home town of Bagshot, Surrey, was one of the reasons he disliked school for much of his teenage years and played truant.

He told Kirsten O’Brien on the Sixteen Summers podcast he could not look back on most of his school years “with any pride or happiness”.

Dad-of-three Steve, married to Olympic rower Helen Glover, did manage to bounce back at sixth form college. A teacher got him interested in Shakespeare and he won a place at Exeter University.

Full interview is on the latest episode of the Sixteen Summers

podcast out now.