Dawn French has opened up about the shocking racist abuse levelled at her and ex-husband Lenny Henry during their 25-year marriage.
The comedian has revealed in a new interview that thugs tried to burn down their family home.
She also explained that poo was left at their front door.
Dawn told the Sunday Times: “I never thought, ‘Oh, look at me in a mixed-race relationship!’
“I fell in love with a man and he happened to be black and we adopted a mixed-race daughter.
“I only realised it was an issue when there was hatred from utter [expletive].
“Although that was hugely disappointing and shocking, you have to get past it.
“Getting [poo] on your doorstep — these things make you steel up a bit and think: ‘Bring it on, I can deal with this.’
“And we were lucky we had a big house and a gate and could employ people to protect us when we needed it.
“Lots of mixed-race couples weren’t so lucky.”
Dawn and Lenny divorced in 2010; they share adopted daughter Billie and remain close.
The Delicious star previously commented: “Remarkably, we seem to have shifted with relative ease from a 25-year marriage to a lasting friendship.
“I am amazed by us – there is no war, we’ve turned out to be the best of friends.
“There were lots of good years but one tricky last year.”
In 2013, she married charity boss, Mark Bignell, whom she’d begun dating the year earlier, and they live together in Cornwall.
Of their relationship, she has revealed: “I remarried and I married a very cheerful man, and I’ve come to realise just how important cheerfulness is – it’s a wonderful thing.”