• Home
  • News
  • World
  • Politics
  • Money
  • Lifestyle
  • Entertainment
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Travel
  • More
    • Tech
    • Web Stories
    • Spotlight
    • Press Release
What's On

American makes full English for the first time but ‘one thing is missing’

25 May 2025

Woman commits horror crime then texts ‘Mum, I’ve done something awful’

25 May 2025

Krosno airport race horror as car crashes into crowd with at least 14 casualties

25 May 2025

Inside Boris Johnson and Carrie’s rollercoaster romance from fiery fights to new arrival

25 May 2025

‘Superb’ espresso machine shoppers say ‘delivers exceptional coffee’ slashed to lowest-ever price’

25 May 2025

Newsboy’s horseracing tips for Monday’s five meetings, including Cartmel Nap

25 May 2025

Alan Yentob dead: BBC presenter and executive dies after 40 year career at broadcaster

25 May 2025
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Trending
  • American makes full English for the first time but ‘one thing is missing’
  • Woman commits horror crime then texts ‘Mum, I’ve done something awful’
  • Krosno airport race horror as car crashes into crowd with at least 14 casualties
  • Inside Boris Johnson and Carrie’s rollercoaster romance from fiery fights to new arrival
  • ‘Superb’ espresso machine shoppers say ‘delivers exceptional coffee’ slashed to lowest-ever price’
  • Newsboy’s horseracing tips for Monday’s five meetings, including Cartmel Nap
  • Alan Yentob dead: BBC presenter and executive dies after 40 year career at broadcaster
  • Supermum of three works just 16 hours a week and enjoys multiple holidays a year – here is how
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube
England TimesEngland Times
Demo
  • Home
  • News
  • World
  • Politics
  • Money
  • Lifestyle
  • Entertainment
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Travel
  • More
    • Tech
    • Web Stories
    • Spotlight
    • Press Release
England TimesEngland Times
Home » Loose Women’s Katie Piper ‘never thought she’d make it to 40’ after devastating attack
Entertainment

Loose Women’s Katie Piper ‘never thought she’d make it to 40’ after devastating attack

By staff25 May 2025No Comments4 Mins Read

Katie Piper has spoken candidly about turning 40 – a milestone she once thought she would never reach following a near-fatal acid attack in 2008

22:26, 24 May 2025Updated 22:26, 24 May 2025

Loose Women star 'never thought she'd make it to 40' after devastating attack
Loose Women star ‘never thought she’d make it to 40’ after devastating attack

Broadcaster and campaigner Katie Piper has described turning 40 as a milestone she never expected to reach, reflecting on the traumatic events that nearly claimed her life 17 years ago.

In an interview with The Times, the Loose Women panellist said she was surprised by the negative societal attitudes surrounding women ageing, particularly given the life-threatening ordeal she endured in her twenties.

“It was quite shocking for me, because turning 40 was only ever positive,” Piper said. “It was a celebration of my life and reaching a milestone I never thought I’d reach.”

Piper was 24 when she suffered life-changing injuries in an acid attack orchestrated by her ex-boyfriend, Daniel Lynch, in March 2008. Just two days after Lynch raped and stabbed her, he arranged for 19-year-old Stefan Sylvestre to throw sulphuric acid in her face.

Katie before her attack
Katie before her attack(Image: PA)

The attack left Piper with extensive burns and permanent damage, including the loss of her nose, part of her ear, her eyelids, and partial vision in one eye. She was treated at a specialist burns unit in London, where surgeons performed pioneering reconstructive procedures, including the UK’s first use of a skin substitute to rebuild her face.

Her injuries also required extensive surgery to her mouth and tongue. Despite the severity of her injuries, Piper has since gone on to build a successful career in broadcasting and advocacy.

In the years following the attack, she waived her right to anonymity and told her story in the Channel 4 documentary Katie: My Beautiful Face, which brought national attention to the issue of acid attacks.

In 2009, she founded The Katie Piper Foundation, which supports burns survivors through rehabilitation and care. In 2022, she was awarded an OBE for her services to charity and victims of burns and other disfigurements.

Katie was left with life-threatening injuries after the acid attack
Katie was left with life-threatening injuries after the acid attack(Image: WireImage)

She joined the panel of ITV’s Loose Women in 2021 and previously competed in Strictly Come Dancing in 2018. Piper has also published a best-selling autobiography and continues to use her platform to raise awareness about visible difference and resilience.

While acknowledging that her public profile stemmed from the attack, Piper emphasised that she does not want her achievements to be defined by it.

“It’s not like I’m an actress or a pop star,” she said. “I came to public attention as a news story, as a victim of a violent crime. I hope, 17 years on, I’m doing something different, but I think it’s probably unfair of me to say, ‘I don’t want to talk about the burns and the attack anymore.’”

She added: “I think it’s more that I don’t want to attribute my success [since] to that man’s actions against me.”

Katie has had dozens of surgeries over the years
Katie has had dozens of surgeries over the years(Image: Katie Piper Instagram)

Piper said her continued success should instead be credited to her own resilience and hard work. “If I’m seen on Loose Women laughing about something entirely different or presenting a totally different show, the public starts to accept visibly different people doing lots of different things. And that is when inclusion and acceptance happen,” she said.

Since her recovery, Piper has married carpenter Richard Sutton, with whom she shares two daughters, Belle, 11, and Penelope, 7. The couple had hoped to have a third child but had to reconsider after Piper underwent emergency eye surgery.

Reflecting on the early assumptions made about her future, Piper said she was once expected to live a limited life. “For a long time, it was assumed that I’d be dependent on [my] parents and have a mediocre existence,” she said. “I had to write the rule book for me.”

Daniel Lynch was convicted of rape, grievous bodily harm, and actual bodily harm, and was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 16 years. Sylvestre received a life sentence with a minimum of six years and was released in 2018 after serving nine years. Lynch is expected to appear before a parole board next month.

Piper continues to campaign for greater understanding and support for those living with visible differences and remains committed to using her platform to foster greater inclusivity and resilience in public life.

If you’ve been the victim of sexual assault, you can access help and resources via www.rapecrisis.org.uk or calling the national telephone helpline on 0808 802 9999

Follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads.

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Tumblr Email

Related News

Alan Yentob dead: BBC presenter and executive dies after 40 year career at broadcaster

25 May 2025

Cruz Beckham’s heartbreaking response as Brooklyn says he ‘choose’ Nicola Peltz over family

25 May 2025

Boris Johnson’s nine children and their unique names – including doppleganger son

25 May 2025

Brooklyn Beckham sends damning message to parents as he brutally chooses wife in feud

25 May 2025

Elizabeth Hurley looks smitten as she makes red carpet debut with Billy Ray Cyrus

25 May 2025

BBC’s Monty Don ‘lost everything’ with wife as kids asked ‘Why is Daddy crying?’

25 May 2025
Latest News

Woman commits horror crime then texts ‘Mum, I’ve done something awful’

25 May 2025

Krosno airport race horror as car crashes into crowd with at least 14 casualties

25 May 2025

Inside Boris Johnson and Carrie’s rollercoaster romance from fiery fights to new arrival

25 May 2025

‘Superb’ espresso machine shoppers say ‘delivers exceptional coffee’ slashed to lowest-ever price’

25 May 2025
Stay In Touch
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • Vimeo
Don't Miss
Sports

Newsboy’s horseracing tips for Monday’s five meetings, including Cartmel Nap

By staff25 May 20250

Newsboy fancies his nap, Ilikedwayurthinkin, to win at Cartmel and also hopes Durham Castle can…

Alan Yentob dead: BBC presenter and executive dies after 40 year career at broadcaster

25 May 2025

Supermum of three works just 16 hours a week and enjoys multiple holidays a year – here is how

25 May 2025

Beth Martin body is returned to UK – but heart still missing

25 May 2025
England Times
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
© 2025 England Times. All Rights Reserved.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

Go to mobile version