Denise Welch has revealed that during a dark period of depression and addiction, she would drink alcohol before appearing on morning television. The actress and Loose Women panellist, now 67, has spoken candidly about her struggles in a new interview, describing how her mental health has always been the key to her wellbeing.
Welch, who has enjoyed a career renaissance in recent years with roles in Waterloo Road and upcoming dramas, admitted that her past was marked by heavy drinking. 'I used to drink before going on morning TV,' she said. 'It was a terrible time.' The star, who is now sober, credited her recovery to focusing on her mental health and making positive changes in her life.
The actor, also known as the mother of 1975 frontman Matty Healy, has transformed her image with a new team including a stylist and publicist. 'I'd lost a bit of weight and I was feeling mentally very good in myself, and everything depends on my mental health,' she explained. 'So I thought I'm going to get my own stylist and hairdresser, and I'm going to get a publicist and I'm going to change direction.'
Welch's honesty about her past struggles has resonated with fans, who have followed her journey from 'queen of the soaps' to a beloved media personality. She now embraces her status as a 'hun' – a term she says applies to herself, Carol Vorderman, and Alison Hammond – and is enjoying a new chapter in her career.
