A Place in the Sun star has made a shocking revelation that she "almost quit TV". Scarlette Douglas, who joined the Channel 4 lifestyle series as one of the presenters and property experts in 2015, made this startling admission.
She chose to depart from the show in August 2022 after seven years to chase other ventures, although she has maintained a close friendship with her former colleagues, including Jasmine Harman and Laura Hamilton.
Scarlette appeared on ITV's Good Morning Britain on Wednesday (January 7) to discuss the impact of "unconscious bias" on TV, which led her to reconsider her career in the industry.
This follows accusations by some viewers that The Traitors is racist after Netty and Judy, two black women, were the first players to be eliminated from the castle. The Daily Express has reached out to representatives of the show for comment.
On today's GMB, host Ed Balls began: "It's not the first time reality shows or the voting public have chosen to eliminate ethnic minority contestants first", reports the Express.
Susanna Reid chimed in: "TV presenter Scarlette Douglas had a similar experience on her series of I'm a Celebrity, when she and Loose Women and ITV News presenter Charlene White, both black women of course, were the first two campmates to leave the jungle."
Turning to Scarlette, the host then asked: "You said this was so bad, you wanted to leave [TV]. Was that after your experience on I'm a Celebrity?".
Scarlette responded: "No. Do you know what? I want to start this by saying that no matter what I say here, I already know there's going to be backlash. There's going to be something negative, and someone on social media is going to say I'm using the race card.
"It's very sad to know that, and it's very sad to feel that I should be worried to sit here and talk about my experience in TV. This year, I'll be in TV for 11 years, which is amazing and actually, I had an incredible experience on I'm a Celebrity."
The 38-year-old star then clarified that when she became the second contestant to depart the Australian jungle in 2022, she believed it was because she wasn't as recognisable as her fellow campmates.
"However, when we do look at other things and other situations, like what's happening on The Traitors, like what's happening on other shows, there is a pattern that we cannot ignore, and we need to talk about it a lot more," she added.
"I'm not here to say that the whole country's racist and reality TV is racist, but we do have to talk about the fact that there is an unconscious bias there."
Scarlette continued: "At what point can we just be ourselves and not feel like whatever we do is going to put us in a bad light?".
Looking back on the challenges she's previously encountered, the presenter revealed: "Unfortunately, we're the least desired. I've had many situations in relationships... I just never felt like I was attractive, and it's hard to shake that."
The obstacles even prompted Scarlette to contemplate quitting her career. She elaborated: "We need to talk about it more, I think we need to be okay talking about it. Me being here today is a huge moment for me because I've experienced so many things. Last year, I was like, 'I'm done with television', because I'm so fed up of doing everything I could possibly do and there still being this block.
"Unless I sit here and have this conversation and bring it to the awareness of people that are in charge, nothing's going to change. It is a risk for me sitting here, and it is a risk, 'Oh, what if I get cancelled. Maybe I shouldn't say what I feel.' But if I don't, then there's not going to be a change."
A Place in the Sun can be streamed on Channel 4, while Good Morning Britain broadcasts weekdays on ITV1 and ITVX at 6am.