‘It’s not acceptable’: Gemma Oaten hits out at LBC’s Steve Allen for branding Strictly Come Dancing star Tilly Ramsay ‘a chubby little thing’

Gemma Oaten has hit out at radio host Steve Allen after he called Strictly Come Dancing’s Tilly Ramsay a ‘chubby little thing’ live on air.

The former Emmerdale actress, 37, who is set to join the cast of Coronation Street in a guest role for four upcoming episodes, has previously spoken out about her own battle with anorexia, and is the manager and patron of her family’s eating disorders charity SEED.

Now soap star Gemma has criticised LBC early morning breakfast show host Steve, 67, insisting he shouldn’t be able to ‘get away’ with such remarks.

Unimpressed: Gemma Oaten, 37, has hit out at radio host Steve Allen, 67, after he called Strictly Come Dancing’s Tilly Ramsay, 19, a ‘chubby little thing’ live on air

Gemma said: ‘I will keep calling out people like Steve Allen because whilst he’s allowed to use that language and treat a 19 year old – a bright, beautiful, talented 19 year old – while he’s allowed to do those things and get away with it, that’s no message to all of the others.

‘So, whether he decides to apologise or not, that’s his call, but what is important is that I use my voice and all of the other wonderful people who have got a profile can use their voices to shout out and say it’s not acceptable.’

CBBC presenter Tilly, daughter of celebrity chef Gordon, hit back on social media after hearing Steve’s words, saying she ‘won’t tolerate people that think it’s OK to publicly comment and scrutinise anyone’s weight and appearance’.

Speaking out: Soap star Gemma criticised LBC early morning breakfast show host Steve, insisting he shouldn’t be able to ‘get away’ with such remarks

On his radio show, Allen had read out a comment from a listener telling him the teenager is taking part in Celebrity MasterChef Australia.

He replied: ‘Is she? Well, she can’t blimming well dance, I’m bored with her already.

‘She’s a chubby little thing, isn’t she? Have you noticed? Probably her dad’s cooking, I should imagine.’

He has since reportedly apologised in private.

Tough time: Tilly, pictured with her Strictly partner Nikita Kuzmin on Saturday’s show, said she had endured a ‘difficult week’ following comments made by Steve

Gemma’s anorexia battle saw her end up in a psychiatric unit at the age of 11 and she nearly died four times from the illness.

She has now been in recovery for a number of years and is using her experience to help other people struggling with similar issues.

She explained: ‘I think we must keep shouting loud to change the narrative. There are 1.25 million people in the UK who are suffering with an eating disorder.

‘But then you bear in mind that those 1.25 million have a family, have friends, have siblings, have loved ones, and an eating disorder has got the highest mortality rate than any other mental health illness, and one in five will die as a direct result of an eating disorder or by taking their own life.

Difficult: The Emmerdale star admitted she lost over a decade of her life to the disorder after being admitted to a psychiatric unit when she was just 11 years old

‘I won’t stop talking about it until the powers that be understand that they need to do more and they need to do better, and in the meantime I will keep educating, I will keep having the conversation.

‘This happens and people are dying, and anybody who’s struggling needs to know that they matter.’

Gemma regularly speaks to audiences around the UK about eating disorder awareness and anti-bullying.

She is set to hold her second annual SEED charity gala hosted by Dr Ranj Singh on Tuesday.

Screen star: Gemma previously appeared in ITV’s Emmerdale as Rachel Breckle from 2011 to 2015

Meanwhile, Gemma will be making an appearance in four upcoming episodes of Coronation Street in the guest role of Isla Haywood.

She is guaranteed to ruffle some feathers on the cobbles as Isla meets newly single Tyrone Dobbs when her daughter Darcy attends a party with Hope, Tyrone’s daughter.

Flirty Isla suggests the four of them go for a milkshake together and later she sets her sights on Tyrone, suggesting they meet up for a drink.

When Tyrone reveals to Fiz that he has agreed to a date with Isla, Fiz is furious.

However, when Tyrone and Isla head out of the restaurant after their date, a man approaches and, introducing himself as Tony, Isla’s husband, punches Tyrone and sends him flying.

Health battle: Gemma has been open about her personal battle with anorexia in the past, which she nearly died from four times.