Ricky Whittle's Racist Torment

07 October 2009

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Ricky Whittle was taunted by racist school bullies.

The 'Hollyoaks' actor - favourite to win this year's series of 'Strictly Come Dancing' - said he was singled out because of the colour of his skin while growing up in Northern Ireland.

He said: "I must have been one of the first black people in the whole country. I stood out from the other children at school.

"They had never seen a black kid before and that's where the bullying began. I had a hard time of it - the taunts could be cruel and menacing."

Sport proved to be my saviour. I got into the school football team and started to excel. The more goals I scored, the more popular I became. Instead of being the school 'black kid' I had now become the 'star footballer'.

The 27-year-old star - who previously appeared in soccer drama 'Dream Team' - eventually managed to win round his classmates with his sporting prowess.

He explained: "Sport proved to be my saviour. I got into the school football team and started to excel. The more goals I scored, the more popular I became. Instead of being the school 'black kid' I had now become the 'star footballer'."

However, following a broken leg during a charity match in 2004, Ricky was told his footballing days were over.

He told Love It! magazine: "It was a sickening injury - the kind every sportsman has nightmares about.

"I joked to the doctor, 'So when can I play football again? He quite innocently replied, 'Oh you'll never play again.' My world fell apart. It was the worst I've ever felt. At that point, football was my life."

Eventually, Ricky fought his way back to fitness and even managed to play football again two years after his injury.

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