Lorraine Kelly had the fright of her life today after a clown invaded the set of her ITV show.
And the first thing she did - after screaming to the high heavens - was ask for a gin to calm her nerves (understandable).
Anyone with a phobia of clowns - or anything else for that matter - will likely understand Lorraine’s reaction to the face-painted comic performer.
But this was a particularly cruel prank on the Scottish presenter because it happened during a chat about IT Chapter Two.
The sequel to the 1990 film, which was based on Stephen King’s horror novel, is out in cinemas now, and Lorraine producers thought it would be the perfect time to give the show host a fright.
As entertainment reporter Dan Wootton was explaining about the new film, a clown wearing yellow trousers, a red wig and a waistcoat crept up behind Lorraine and shouted in her ear, prompting her to scream in terror.
“Oh that was horrible! You absolute swines! I hate clowns, I hate them! I need a gin!” she shreaked.
Obviously in on the joke, Dan laughed and offered Lorraine his mug, telling her there was gin in there.
“Here, you can have that,” he said, giggling.
“I really want to see that again. That was genuine fear. You can’t see this movie because it’s two hours and forty five minutes long. You would be utterly terrified.”
Lorraine, still shaken by the scare, branded Dan a “horrible, horrible man” while nervously giggling to herself.
Fair dos to the sterling professional, she managed to compose herself and continue with her next link, and into her next interview with Martin and Shirlie Kemp.
A fear of clowns, known as coulrophobia, is where individuals may feel anxious, scared or even traumatised by the thought of them.
According to coulrophobiafacts.com , Scientists and doctors agree that it is born through not knowing who lies behind the excessive makeup, red nose and hair color.
Lorraine airs weekdays from 8.30am on ITV.
