Steph McGovern says 'hurtful' online comments left her 'thinking negatively' about her body

Steph McGovern has opened up on how comments made online about her size and jaw prompted her to start thinking negatively about her body in a way she hadn't previously.

The former BBC Breakfast star said the cruel jibes came as her profile increased when she began her career in television.

The 37-year-old told The Times: "People started calling me fat and, because I have quite a large jaw, they called me Desperate Dan.

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"You try and be tough, but when they get specific about things you never even thought of, it's hurtful. I started thinking negatively about my body in a way I never had before."

Her comments come as she has teamed up with Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall for new BBC show, Easy Ways to Live Well, which sees the pair exploring the ways people can improve their diet, fitness and mental wellbeing.

McGovern left BBC Breakfast in October last year having been a fixture on the programme since 2010.

She's now set to host her own programme on Channel 4, The Steph Show which is due to kick off this spring.

There were other big changes for McGovern last year as she gave birth to her first child in November.

Announcing the arrival of her daughter, whom she shares with her girlfriend, McGovern tweeted: "Well hello world, just surfaced to let you know that we now have a daughter! Born on Monday morning just as @BBCBreakfast was wrapping up. We’re all fine and dandy.

"Just getting used to the eau de sick/poo I am now regularly wearing. #babylife."