She’s never been one to shy away from the difficult and personal issues while sitting on the Loose Women panel.
And now TV personality Penny Lancaster has opened up about diagnosed with dyslexia aged 46.
Penny – who married rocker Rod Stewart, 73, in 2007 – spoke to The Mirror on Sunday about her diagnosis, which affects her ability to read and write.
‘I was terrified of reading aloud’: Penny Lancaster revealed her shocking dyslexia diagnosis at age 46…as she thanks husband Rod Stewart for his overwhelming support
Chatting to the publication, the former model confessed: ‘I’m dyslexic – something I’ve always known and kept secret until I recently got diagnosed. Rod has given me so much confidence.
Penny explained how husband Rod has been her biggest supporter after finding out about her learning difficulties, which is usually diagnosed in childhood, and even guided her when a recent public speaking event caused her to ‘panic’.
She continued: ‘Rod has never made me feel in any way like I can’t do things. I was asked to read a pledge at a charity event. I was in a panic but he said, ‘Go on, Pen, you can do it.’
![Supportive husband: The former model confessed: 'I'm dyslexic – something I've always known and kept secret until I recently got diagnosed. Rod has given me so much confidence](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/21/20/4869E02600000578-5295155-image-a-24_1516567023138.jpg)
Supportive husband: The former model confessed: ‘I’m dyslexic – something I’ve always known and kept secret until I recently got diagnosed. Rod has given me so much confidence
![Keeping calm: Penny explained how husband Rod has been her biggest supporter after finding out about her learning difficulties and even guided her when a recent public speaking event caused her to 'panic'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/21/20/4869E3AA00000578-5295155-image-a-20_1516566510718.jpg)
Keeping calm: Penny explained how husband Rod has been her biggest supporter after finding out about her learning difficulties and even guided her when a recent public speaking event caused her to ‘panic’
Despite the late diagnosis, Penny was always aware of her condition, particularly during her days at school where it severely knocked her confidence.
Her father, Graham, would take her to extra English tuition to try and improve her reading and writing, but came up against unsympathetic teachers, who told her that she would ‘never amount to anything’, which apparently dumbfounded her dad at the time.
Penny’s 10 year marriage to Rod has seemingly gone from strength-to-strength, after the loved-up couple renewed their wedding vows in an intimate ceremony in July.
![Perfect pairing: Despite the late diagnosis, Penny was always aware of her condition, particularly during her days at school where it severely knocked her confidence](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/21/21/2D35E32900000578-5295155-Perfect_pairing_Despite_the_late_diagnosis_Penny_was_always_awar-a-11_1516570399522.jpg)
Perfect pairing: Despite the late diagnosis, Penny was always aware of her condition, particularly during her days at school where it severely knocked her confidence
The former Strictly contestant gushed over her husband in her latest Instagram post, showing off a very dapper Rod as they prepare for a family Sunday roast.
Captioning the handsome post with: ‘Rods really made the effort tonight! Sunday dinners are especially worth dressing up for’, Penny’s snapshot showed Rod posing against a decadent wood globe while he sips on a glass of white wine.
The silver fox rocked his signature spiked hairdo with a sharp black waistcoat and black suit trousers, continuing the elegant getup with a crisp white shirt.
He slipped into a pair of black crest-emblazoned loafers as he beamed at wife Penny for the sweet moment.
!['Rod's made an effort tonight!': The former Strictly contestant gushed over her husband in her latest Instagram post, showing off a very dapper Rod as they prepare for a family Sunday roast](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/21/20/4869FB9000000578-5295155-image-m-23_1516566989095.jpg)
‘Rod’s made an effort tonight!’: The former Strictly contestant gushed over her husband in her latest Instagram post, showing off a very dapper Rod as they prepare for a family Sunday roast
The model has been married to Rod for more than ten years and they share two children – sons Alastair, 11, and Aiden, six.
They began dating after Rod’s marriage to Australian model Rachel Hunter, 47, broke down.
‘When my marriage to Rachel ended, the last thing I wanted to do was fall head over heels in love with a tall blonde girl in her 20s,’ he confessed in his memoir.
Rod previously praised Penny for bringing his eight children from five relationships together.
Giving a ITV’s Lorraine an honest interview, he said: ‘She literally did bring the family together.
‘I’ve got eight children and I think I am appreciating it more now in old age than I ever did before. I really cherish those moments.’