Mariella Frostrup forced to sit on floor of train despite buying first class ticket | Celebrity News | Showbiz & TV

TV presenter Mariella Frostrup has spoken out about her frustration after a less than satisfactory journey on a Great Western Railway (GWR) train. Despite having a first class ticket, the 61-year-old was forced to sit on the floor in the toilet during her two-hour journey from Tiverton Parkway to Paddington.

Returning to London from a wellness retreat in Devon, the BBC star had treated herself to a first class ticket, but was denied a seat on the overcrowded train and took to social media to express her disappointment.

On X she posted the following message: “New lows for @GWRHelp First class ticket gets you a floor seat in front of the toilet on a train where you can only stand from front to back… I’m getting back in my car.”

When Mariella confronted the train manager, she said: “It’s really disappointing. I paid for a first class ticket for the first time and I’m so tired of this completely unprofessional service.”

The train conductor sympathized and urged Mariella to ask for her money back, later adding: “It’s not just unprofessional, it’s inhuman.” An hour and a half into the journey, she shared another photo of herself working on the floor.

Along with a photo of her laptop on her bag and her kneeling on a newspaper, Mariella wrote: “Is the photo proof @gwrhelp that I just sat on the floor from Tiverton Parkway to Paddington DESPITE holding a first class ticket?

“I’ve just been told (after waiting in line for 15 minutes at your Padd tix office) that I need to write and ask for compensation! Can you make it any harder?” The comments section under Mariella’s posts was filled with responses, Devon Live reports.

One person noted: “If you travel by coach or plane, you are allocated a seat. For short city journeys, it is fine not to be allocated a seat. For longer intercity journeys, it is one of the scandals and drawbacks of modern British railways that you pay a premium and are not even guaranteed a seat.”

Another chimed in: “The compensation should be automatic. They know the info and should be expected to pay.” Another user noted: “Probably cheaper to drive, gas up and park than the cost of the ticket.”

On behalf of Great Western Railway, a representative apologised, saying: “We are really sorry to hear about the customer’s experience. If you have a seat reservation but are unable to sit, you are entitled to compensation and we will follow this up.”