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'I felt so alone'

Shayne Ward’s pregnant girlfriend Sophie Austin reveals bullying hell

The Tina & Bobby actress said bullies threw things at her and pulled her hair

SHAYNE Ward's pregnant girlfriend Sophie Austin has revealed she was badly bullied at school.

The former Hollyoaks star opened up about how she had to leave her first secondary school because she was picked on so badly.

Sophie Austin has revealed she was bullied at secondary school
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Sophie Austin has revealed she was bullied at secondary schoolCredit: Getty Images

, Sophie said she felt "so lonely" and excluded at secondary school.

She said: "I was badly bullied at my first school and in the end I left to go to a new school. I remember feeling very alone and sense of hopelessness.

Sophie Austin, Shayne Ward
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Sophie is expecting her first child with boyfriend Shayne WardCredit: Eamonn and James Clarke

"Bullies pick up on anything which ends up being bigger than it is and can make you question everything about yourself which is horrible as what makes the world so great is the difference in us.

"I come from a very loving family, my mum who is remarried and my father who is in a same sex relationship and this was the reason why a group of boys and girls bullied me to the point I would shy away."

Sophie, 32, continued: "The worst part of bullying for me was feeling so excluded from the school and such little help was given then from teachers ( I was told by the teachers I was not good with people and had friendship problems) and I felt so lonely!

"There were times I had things thrown at me, hair pulled, humiliated, lies made up, name calling, threatened and the list goes on.

"It can make you feel you are totally on your own and makes you question everything about yourself."

Sophie said it spurred her on to focus on acting
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Sophie said it spurred her on to focus on actingCredit: Getty Images

The successful actress said she threw herself into extracurricular activities which sparked her love for the arts.

She said: "I found comfort and strength in acting and music and it was amazing outlet for me!

"I never had drama lessons at school so I would look outside for clubs which meant I met new people and made lots of other friends."

Sophie recently wrapped filming on Tina and Bobby and is expecting a child with Corrie actor Shayne
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Sophie recently wrapped filming on Tina and Bobby and is expecting a child with Corrie actor ShayneCredit: Eamonn and James Clarke

Meanwhile, Sophie has come a long way since then and recently wrapped filming on ITV drama Tina &; Bobby alongside Michelle Keegan and Patsy Kensit.

The Sun exclusively revealed last month that Sophie and Shayne are expecting their first child together after dating for four months.



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