Traitors star Paul Gorton was bullied for being ginger and even HEADBUTTED for the colour of his hair

Appearing on reality TV can also the floodgates to bullies and trolls. But for Paul Gorton that was nothing new.

The 36-year-old Traitors star has been targeted by bullies all his life, simply for having ginger hair, he told the Mirror.

He says: "I realised I was different when I was at primary school and I stuck out like a sore thumb. As I got older, the negative comments kicked in.

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"I had to develop a thick skin as soon as possible. I tried to go along with the joke, even though I was the butt of the joke, which is complicated to look back on."

Now Paul, from Manchester, is using his experiences to help others and to raise awareness of the impact of bullying by becoming an ambassador of the National Bullying Helpline, which gets 5,000 clicks a day.

Paul says of his own experience: "The problem is that people don't take 'gingerism' seriously, but it can really affect people and I want those who are suffering cruel taunts at the hands of bullies to know that there is help and that I understand what they are going through."

Father-of-one Paul's own traumatic memories resurfaced recently when a child's friend revealed he had been teased over his ginger hair. He says: "I was really triggered recently as my friend's young son was bullied for having ginger hair.

"It made me realise it's still going on. Bullying someone for their hair colour is not OK. This boy is a bright kid and received an award at school recently, but when the headteacher came to give it to him, he remarked he wasn't sure if he should receive it because of his hair."

"The lad came home upset and asked his dad if that was a normal thing. The idea