Golden girl Ellie Simmonds gets chatty with Alan Carr

She has become the nation's sweetheart over the last few weeks, but last night Walsall's Ellie Simmonds showed a different side of her character on Alan Carr's chat show.

The Aldridge swimmer appeared alongside other Paralympians following their outstanding performances at the London 2012 Games. The swimming sensation won two golds, a silver and a bronze in the pool

She said of her medal-winning finish, where she ducked her head under the water in disbelief: "It was just embarrassing looking back. Gosh."

Carr even joked about Ellie picking up a Damehood, an upgrade on her MBE. "Oh did you hear that from the Queen?" she quipped back.

Ellie, who believes the support of the people of the Midlands was instrumental in pushing herself in the pool, also got to be part of the closing ceremony. "It was really scary. They were telling me to be careful not to singe my hair with the flame" she told Carr.

Ellie's performances brought praise from people all around the country and also earned her a golden postbox in her hometown.

The former Alridge School pupil will tomorrow be starting the Great North Run. She is also expected to earn more than £500,000 in sponsorship deals.

She told the Express & Star earlier this week about her approach to the London Games and how she dealt with it all. "There was quite a lot of pressure and people were expecting me to get medals as well," she said.

"I just dealt with it. When you get there you're in a little bubble and don't really know what's going on outside."