Katherine Parkinson has recalled the moment she was 'knocked out cold'

The British star, best known for her roles in The IT Crowd and Rivals, was still establishing herself as an actress after studying at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art when the attack took place. Recalling the incident during an appearance on How To Fail With Elizabeth Day, a tearful Parkinson, 48, said she was returning home from the theatre with a friend when she was assaulted. 'A guy who had previous form of doing this got into a bit of a disagreement with this colleague of mine,' she recalled. 'I said "leave her alone" and he knocked me out cold and broke my nose.' Parkinson was subsequently hospitalised with a broken nose, but the actress says her treatment was overshadowed by feelings of shame after nursing staff failed to acknowledge that she was the victim.