Gail Porter says she was 'used' and 'taken advantage of' when nude FHM shoot was projected onto the...

Gail Porter has shared her experience of the distressing moment she found out that a picture of her nude body had been displayed on the Houses of Parliament without her permission.

The 53-year-old, who used to host Top Of The Pops and The Big Breakfast, was one of the most beloved television personalities of the 1990s. She also featured in several men's magazines during that time, including Loaded.

In 1999, her nude photographs were displayed on the Houses of Parliament without her permission as part of a publicity stunt for FHM's 'sexiest woman' campaign.

In the BBC Two documentary titled "Loaded: Lads, Mags and Mayhem," which is airing tonight and can be watched on BBC iPlayer, Gail expressed that she "felt somewhat foolish... and quite disappointed."

In discussing the incident, she mentioned that she had not received any payment for the shoot and only learned about the stunt when she saw photographers and reporters gathered outside her house, along with her name being referenced on BBC News.

She remembered, "It was May 9, 1999. I woke up that morning and was in my bathroom brushing my teeth while having BBC News playing in the living room. Suddenly, I heard my name mentioned, and I thought, 'BBC News? That’s surprising. Why are they discussing me?'"

I glanced out of my front window and noticed a bunch of journalists and photographers gathered outside my house. My immediate reaction was, "Oh no." I headed straight to the living room and was confronted by what I saw there.

I felt somewhat foolish and quite disappointed—actually, very disappointed—to realize that this was just a major publicity stunt for a magazine. The only one who wasn’t in the loop was me, the person whose image they used.

Gail Porter, featured in a BBC Two documentary, has shared her distressing experience of finding out that a photo of her unclothed body was shown on the Houses of Parliament without her permission.

"I believe it turned out to be one of the highest-selling issues of FHM. They seemed to treat me like a pawn in their strategy. Being new to the industry, when they told me they weren’t going to compensate me, I figured that was the norm for everyone. I suppose I was an easy mark."

"I would have appreciated consent, as I likely would have refused," the television celebrity emphasized.

She mentioned, "Simply walking down the street, there were many people pointing at me, making it clear that they noticed me without clothes."

I used to be someone who really wanted to make others happy, especially back in the '90s. It felt like the only thing I was known for was discussing my appearance in magazines like FHM. I allowed others to take advantage of me, and I now realize I should have stood up for myself.

In another part of the documentary, Gail shared her first impressions of participating in magazine photo shoots, likening the experience to being in a film.

She remarked, "Television in the '90s was all about enjoyment. Nobody was concerned about going overboard... Naturally, when you're on TV, people start to notice you."

Everything felt fresh and unfamiliar. It started with our local Scottish news saying, "Look at little Gail from Joppa, she’s achieving great things, and we’re so proud of her." Then, out of nowhere, I found myself with the world at my doorstep. I was absolutely loving it.

During my time with Loaded, I believe I only participated in one photoshoot for them. They were quite friendly when I arrived, but unfortunately, they ended up bringing all the clothes in the wrong sizes. It was a bit frustrating to hear them say, "Oh, this doesn't fit. Oh, that doesn't fit. Oh, that doesn't fit." At that point, I jokingly thought that maybe it would be easier to just throw on a sheet instead.

The former presenter of Top Of The Pops and The Big Breakfast, who appeared in 1999, is now 53 years old and was a well-known TV personality during the 1990s. Due to his popularity, he posed for several men's magazines, including Loaded.

In the past, the television host, who is now 52 years old, mentioned that she received no payment for any of her photoshoots (as shown in a 1999 image).

When I was approached by FHM, they requested that I pose without any clothes. I called my grandma and told her, "They want to take a photo of me in the nude."

She reminisced, saying something like, "I remember the good old days when we had photos of Marilyn Monroe and other beautiful pictures. It was all so charming. Just go ahead and do your thing."

I thought to myself, "Sure, that works for me." If Grandma approved, then that was enough for me. I felt a bit anxious, though.

However, since everyone around me was busy adjusting my hair and ensuring that my back was covered in fake tan, and with my mom present and wind machines whirring, it created a really thrilling atmosphere.

I was getting ready and it felt surreal, almost like I was in a film. It was a lot of fun and had this whimsical quality to it. I found myself feeling really strong and confident.

At the height of her career, Gail was considered one of the most well-known TV presenters, but she has admitted that her fame didn't translate into substantial wealth.

The Scottish celebrity rose to fame through frequent spots on popular programs like The Big Breakfast, The Movie Chart Show, VH1, and the BBC music show Top Of The Pops.

However, the former pin-up has previously stated that she didn't make much money in the early stages of her mainstream career, noting that her pay per episode on Top Of The Pops was among her lowest earnings.

In an interview with The Telegraph, she mentioned, "I believe £500 isn’t much. After giving 20 percent to your agent and paying your rent, there’s hardly anything left. Plus, I never received any payment for appearing on magazine covers."

The Scottish celebrity gained widespread recognition through frequent appearances on shows like The Big Breakfast, The Movie Chart Show, VH1, and the BBC music program Top Of The Pops.

Reflecting on her largest earnings, Porter mentions that doing a voiceover for a Sainsbury's ad brought in a decent amount of money.

"I was making a few hundred pounds each week, and honestly, I can't really complain about that," she remembered. "But aside from that, I don’t recall having any other well-paying jobs."

Porter had previously confessed that she didn't receive any compensation for her contributions to magazines during the period when men's magazines were at their height in terms of sales and popularity.

In an interview with The Daily Star, she stated, "I never received any compensation for my work. I wasn't paid for my contributions to FHM, GQ, or many other magazines I worked with."

While others might have received payment, I never did, and I was in a pretty fragile position back then. They kept telling me, "This will really boost your career, it will be so much fun, and think about the photos you can show your kids when you’re older."

In October of this year, Gail shared that she reached out to her neighborhood bookstore seeking employment while she was facing homelessness.

The television host, who went bankrupt in 2017, once went through a tough six-month stretch without a home.

In 2005, Gail experienced total hair loss due to alopecia, which led to a significant decline in her job prospects. As a result, her expenses quickly surpassed her earnings.

In October of this year, Gail (shown in the picture) shared that she had sought employment at her neighborhood bookstore during a difficult time when she was facing homelessness.

While being interviewed on Lorraine, Gail shared her experiences of financial difficulties during that time, explaining how challenging it was for her to find television jobs.

She recounted, "I recall visiting the nearby bookstore and asking, 'Are there any job openings?' They responded, 'But you're Gail Porter!' and I replied, 'No, seriously, I'm really looking for a job.'"

"I've tried to save as much as possible, but my wonderful daughter, who is now 22, often makes it feel like my money disappears quickly."

She said, "I had lost my hair, I wasn't getting any job opportunities, and the bills kept piling up. This kind of thing can happen to anyone. I never thought it would happen to me."

Gail has become a supporter of the Fair Credit Charity, an organization that helps ease financial struggles by providing loans within the community.