Traitors star opens up about 'violent childhood'

Irish Daily Mirror

24-04-2025

The Traitors UK star Ash Bibi has opened up about her violent childhood and living in a women's refuge when she was a teenager.
The 47-year-old, who spent five years living in Dublin, appeared on the hit show hosted by Claudia Winkleman, last year.
Ash has now opened up about her traumatic childhood in hopes of shining a light on issues surrounding domestic abuse.
She said she was nine years old when she realised that her home was not a safe place.
"I spent my childhood lying awake, terrified that the next scream I heard would mean something terrible, and that I would be in the firing line again," she said.
Ash said she lived in fear as she was forbidden from engaging with the outside world, having friends or expressing her interests.
She confided in her school teachers, but said that while they were supportive, the community organisations she was linked with were not.
"These organisations told me to stay compliant, to be a 'good girl', rather than offering any real solutions," she explained.
"I quickly understood that their advice did not reflect an understanding of the situation I was living through."
Ash said she was 13 when she reached a turning point, contacting ChildLine for the first time.
"I was terrified, but I knew I had to get help from somewhere. They advised me to speak to a trusted adult, so I confided in my science teacher."
She was once again linked in with community support, and when she turned 16, she left home and went into a women's refuge.
"Stepping into that refuge was the first time I felt a sense of security. The refuge not only provided safety but also resources for her emotional healing."
She was also linked with a police officer who specialised in young women escaping abuse.
"He was a vital resource, guiding me and ensuring my safety," she explained, adding that she felt haunted by the fact she had to leave her younger sister behind.
"I had to put my safety first, but the guilt of leaving my sister alone in that environment was overwhelming."
The Birmingham-born TV star added that for victims, there are still barriers to accessing help.
"My past is not just my story, it represents many who are still suffering in silence today.
"It is crucial that we confront these issues head-on, realising that cultural and social barriers often silence victims.
"We need to create more widely accessible support systems for girls and young women who feel trapped, no matter their background," she continued.
"If there is anybody right now who is trapped in a situation like I was, I want them to know there is always a way out, even when it seems impossible."