Leslie looks swell without trout pout

It was a cosmetic surgery mistake that left her looking like a fish out of water.

Leslie Ash endured a year of ridicule over her swollen lips - or the 'trout pout', as it became known.

But now, after painful corrective treatment, the actress has revealed a much slimmer-lipped look.

The former Men Behaving Badly star spoke of the abuse and humiliation she endured after the procedure to give her fuller lips went horribly wrong.

And of the celebrities who ridiculed her, she said: 'I know who my enemies are.'

She added: 'I haven't done anything awful. I made a mistake and I've paid a high price for it. Some of the things people have said have been so hurtful, it's knocked me for six. Some days I found it almost impossible to get out of bed.

'I had an accident. If I'd been in a car crash and lost a leg, people wouldn't have felt able to take the mickey out of me so mercilessly.'

Miss Ash, 43, added: 'On top of everything else came the hate mail. People would ask what the hell I'd done to myself. They'd swear and be abusive and at times it got quite frightening.'

Miss Ash has condemned the public humiliation by chat show host Graham Norton and comedian David Baddiel on their respective programmes. 'I have a cutting service where I'm sent every word that's been written about me and I know who my enemies are,' she said.

'David Baddiel and Graham Norton have been really cruel and rude about me. If I saw them I would certainly let them know.'

The mother of two had the surgery last year, while filming BBC1 police drama Merseybeat.

As well as collagen in her lips, fat was inserted between her nose and lips to iron out wrinkles.

But an allergic reaction, after too much synthetic filler polymer was inserted, caused her body to keep producing collagen, leaving her mouth painfully swollen.

Her lips became the focus of attention on Merseybeat, with ratings going up to six million as viewers watched in horrified fascination.

Despite the unswerving support of her husband of 15 years, former Leeds United footballer Lee Chapman, the ridicule left her depressed.

She began corrective treatment this year with surgeon Dr Michael Comins, involving a course of steroids and painful lip massages.

Miss Ash warned women to use a reputable doctor for cosmetic procedures, but she will not be taking legal action against the person responsible for her misfortune.

'Unfortunately I went to a friend,' she said. 'I haven't taken action because she was doing me a favour. And we are still friends.'

She said she had previously plumped up her lips with no adverse reaction, but admitted the latest treatment was not her first brush with disaster.

'I had Botox once and it was hysterical,' she said. 'A group of girlfriends and I tried it and I found I couldn't frown. That's no good for an actress.'

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