Burnley's Shameless star Alice Barry releases autobiography (From Burnley and Pendle Citizen)

Burnley's Shameless star Alice Barry releases autobiography

7:30pm Friday 22nd March 2013 in News

SHAMELESS star Alice Barry has lifted the lid on her childhood in East Lancashire in her autobiography.

The actress, best known for her role as Lillian Tyler in the Channel Four series, reveals her tough and tragic past living in Burnley.

The straight-talking star of Phoenix Nights and Clocking Off who grew up in Haslam Street in Gannow Top, said writing had helped rid her of past demons.

The book, which is on sale now, tells of her brutal and physically abusive Catholic education, how she was targeted by bullies and teachers and of how she was subjected to sexual advances from her uncle at the age of 12.

Alice, who joked she had lost track of her age, said: “I started writing the book two years ago, jotting down things here and there when I had the chance.

“I wanted to write it as a way of releasing the things that had happened to me in the past.

“The book is very frank and honest. I just wanted to tell it as it is without glossing over the bad things.”

The eldest of four children, Alice suffered a catalogue of unfortunate events including her mother losing her arm in an horrific accident in a cotton mill which led her to attempt suicide as a teenager by taking an overdose of aspirin.

Things started to look up for the former Coal Clough Secondary School pupil when she met Terry, her ‘gentle giant’, who she later married.

But tragedy struck again soon after the birth of her son when her 26-year-old brother died of cancer. Further setbacks came when her beloved Terry passed away.

She said: “Although there were a lot of bad incidents growing up, I am very fond of Burnley and still visit a lot as my son lives in the town.”

The book beg-ins when she is seven years old and continues to current events. n Who The Hell is Alice? My Story, £14.99 from John Blake Publishing.

It is also due to be sold in America and Australia.