Kirstie Allsopp has denied breaking lockdown rules earlier in the year after travelling to another home despite her partner testing positive for COVID-19.
The Location, Location, Location presenter, 49, was accused of potentially spreading the virus by journeying to one of her homes in Devon to isolate when partner Ben Andersen already had symptoms.
But she has since defended her actions, telling the latest edition of Radio Times they travelled to the property as a precautionary measure so he wouldn’t infect others.
Lockdown: Kirstie Allsopp has denied breaking lockdown rules earlier in the year after travelling to another home despite her partner testing positive for COVID-19
‘When Ben was diagnosed with COVID, we weren’t at home, either in London or Devon. We were somewhere else,’ she said.
‘Because Ben was infectious, we went to Devon, where there’s 40 acres and we wouldn’t infect anyone else.’
She added: ‘There are loads of people who are always going to believe I did the wrong thing,” she said of the trip, during the first lockdown.
‘I did not go to Devon (from London) after lockdown. We went to isolate.’
Couple: The presenter, 49, was accused of potentially spreading the virus by journeying to one of her homes in Devon to isolate when partner Ben Andersen already had symptoms
Travel: But she has since defended her actions, telling the latest edition of Radio Times they travelled to the property as a precautionary measure so he wouldn’t infect others
And Allsopp, the daughter of Charles Henry Allsopp, sixth Baron Hindlip, said she was “very angered by the concept that people think privilege strips you of empathy.
‘It drives me mad,’ she said. ‘Death is death, grief is grief, loss is loss, fear is fear. Money absolutely makes life easier.’
‘But it doesn’t mean that I’m not aware of all the people who have lost their jobs this year and who have no idea when they will find another one.
‘Or those marriages that just won’t make it through another lockdown. I’m fully aware of how many people are struggling right now.’
Taking to Twitter in March with a furious rant, Kirstie lashed out after a story was published claiming she was residing in a holiday home in Devon.
Trolled: Taking to Twitter in March with a furious rant, Kirstie lashed out after the story was published claiming she was residing in a holiday home in Devon
The Location, Location, Location host was quick to clear up the confusion, revealing that she has two homes in Devon, but she had been staying in her permanent residence with her family.
After a follower tweeted: ‘Why r u in Devon !! Shameful @KirstieMAllsopp’; Kirstie was quick to hit back: ‘Because it is my home.
‘I am not in North Devon where I do have a holiday home. Two things totally different.’
She added to another follower: ‘I’m not on holiday I am in my home. I’m sorry you have been misinformed. I am dealing with those who have spread these false rumours.’
Spat! Kirstie sparked aTwitter storm, with Piers Morgan among those calling the star out online after she complained she was being trolled
Kirstie also complained that she was being trolled over the confusion, tweeting at the time: ‘The last 24 hours has been utterly horrible, full of vile, unpleasant and frankly frightening comments.’
Kirstie sparked aTwitter storm, with Piers Morgan among those calling the star out online after she complained she was being trolled.
He responded: ‘Kirstie, you’re rich, privileged and isolating in a lavish country home with your family.
‘Maybe stop making this crisis about your struggle with trolls and direct your energy into rallying support for NHS workers risking their lives for us all in very dangerous circumstances?’
Fiery: The Good Morning Britain star, 55, and Location, Location, Location presenter, 49, had a fiery debate on the chat show earlier this year over their polarising views on the coronavirus pandemic (pictured)
Calling out: While Piers called out Kirstie on Twitter in March after she complained she was being trolled over confusion over her two homes in Devon during the height of lockdown
The GMB star has since claimed that the property presenter got ITV executives to ring him up in an attempt to make him apologise to her.
Piers said it was a ‘very short phone call’ and he told bosses that he is ‘entitled to his opinion’ and will ‘keep saying it’, which they accepted.
Talking to Mirror last month, he said: ‘She got a load of TV execs to call me up trying to get me to stop and apologise.
‘I was like, ”You’ve got to be joking”. It was a very short phone call. I said, ”I’m entitled to my opinion and I intend to keep saying it”, which they accepted.’
Piers added: ‘Everyone’s going to have an opinion but you should respect opinions you don’t agree with.’
The full interview is in Radio Times magazine, out now.
Interview: The full interview with Kirsty is in Radio Times magazine, out now