90s star says 'alcohol became my medicine' as they open up on struggle with fame
90s singer Kavana has opened up about his struggle with alcoholism and fame.
The star, whose real name is Anthony Gerard Kavanagh, rose to fame in the late 90s, and went on to appear on the likes of The Big Reunion and Celebrity Big Brother, where he made it to the final.
However, despite scoring a number of chart singles, Kavana was struggling with his mental health and dependency on alcohol.
He's now opened up about that period of his life in a memoir titled Pop Scars, and shared his journey on ITV 's Lorraine.
Speaking to guest host Christine Lampard, Kavana explained that during that time there had been 'no talk about mental health' and he became 'conscious of how I looked'.
'You become very self-conscious and you become this person that everybody else wants you to be,' he went on.
'I didn't know at the time but I am an alcoholic… it became medicine, it became my boyfriend, and it worked for a long, long time,' he said.
Lorraine airs weekdays from 9am on ITV1.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
8 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
James Whale dead: Radio legend dies aged 74 after five-year cancer battle
James Whale has died aged 74 following a brave battle with cancer. The former Celebrity Big Brother star had been diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2000, which he battled. At the time, the broadcasting star had one of his kidneys removed due to a cancerous tumour on it. However, after feeling unwell for about a year, the radio DJ visited a doctor and was given the news that cancer had returned in August 2020. He announced in August of the same year that the cancer had spread to his spine, brain and lungs. His wife, Nadine, confirmed that James died earlier today. She told the Express: "James slipped away very gently this morning. It was a beautiful passing, and he left with a smile on his face." In a statement shared on social media, TalkTV said: "We are sad to announce that James Whale MBE died earlier today, aged 74, following a lengthy battle with cancer. As a broadcasting legend for over 50 years, James will be missed by so many at TALK and the wider News UK family." In his final newspaper column, which was released just one day before his death, James said: "What's surprised me most is how much better in myself I feel since finally moving into a hospice near my home in Kent a week or so back. "I began to feel better immediately. More positive. I feel at peace here, even though I'm not a religious person." He went on to write for the Daily Express: "I know I've reached the end of my life but I'm quite sanguine about it. Despite everything, I'm happy to go now and a lot of that is due to the people who work here, because they make dying as peaceful and pain-free as possible." The tragic news comes just hours after James' pal, Eamonn Holmes, shared a heartbreaking update, confirming he was "at the end of his journey". Speaking earlier today on GB News, Eamonn said: "A friend of ours James Whale, who I have been to see, is nearing the end of his life maybe this week" Christopher Biggins, who was appearing on the show said that the pair had visited James at his hospice over the weekend. He commented: "We went on Saturday to see him, and he looks terrific, I have to say, and it was great to see him but it's his voice that's the trouble. "The irony of being a journalist and using his voice on the radio brilliantly over the years, but now his voice is going." Christopher added: "What was so wonderful is the hospice that he's staying in, which I think needs something like £12million a year or something to survive, it was just wonderful. The nurses were phenomenal so the nurses so he's being looked after royally, and I think that keeps him going funnily enough. And he has a wonderful room with a view of trees and wonderful squirrels coming in to see him." James recently said he was struggling to breathe, think and talk, as he entered week seven of his 12 week prognosis just a matter of weeks ago. The host had remained committed in sharing updates with his fans as he carried on his podcast, Tales of the Whales alongside his wife Nadine. A touching clip from the columnist's last podcast was recently shared on TalkTV, with the journalist summoning the strength to say to his wife Nadine, "We've had a good time together, haven't we?" A supportive Nadine, who was next to him while the episode was being recorded, replied: "The best," before James whispered the words "I love you" to her. Clearly emotional, Nadine said: "I love you too. Shall we sign off on the podcast now?" James was put on steroids following his diagnosis to treat his stage four cancer. But in June, he revealed he had come "to the end" of his treatment. Speaking at the TRIC Awards in 2023, which he attended with his second wife Nadine Lamont-Brown, James told the Mirror: "I'm kind of at the end, the end of my treatment." But with trademark humour, he added: "When I lose a lot more weight when I get really ill, I'll look fantastic. I've just come off all the steroids I was on, which made me look like a bloody balloon. I'm feeling better from that." James' wife Nadine also explained: "He's had all the possible treatments, he's on a clinical trial but we're probably going to be winding up on that quite soon. It's stopped working." James added: "The cancer gets into your head and sometimes you can't stand noise. At the moment, I have got cancer fatigue, which makes you very tired. "Some days I might feel sorry for myself. I feel sorry for my wife really. It's more difficult for her." In November 2022, James told the British Curry Awards he "won't be here" in a year's time. Addressing the audience at the ceremony, he said: "I know a lot of you won't like me, but this time next year I won't be here. I have terminal cancer. As you might be able to hear, I am having chemotherapy which makes it harder for me to breathe, but I'm OK. Don't worry. "I am in my 70s now and I just want to say don't waste your time on stupid things that don't matter", he said. "25 years later I've got it again. I'm 71 and I've had a great life." James previously admitted that he thought about ending his life by euthanasia. The talkRADIO star lamented the thought "might as well go and get it over with" crossed his mind at first. He told The Sun: "I came home, had a little think about things. I decided I'm just booking myself a trip to Dignitas. You might as well just go and get it over with." "I'd looked into it quite some time ago because Melinda died two years ago and it's been something in the back of my mind," he said of his first wife Melinda, who died from lung cancer age 68 in 2018. James and Melinda were married for 48 years and shared two sons. He continued: "This little b*****d has spread. It's in my remaining kidney. I've got a couple of small lesions in my lungs. I've got it in my spine. I've got it in my brain." James rocketed to fame in the 1980s when he established himself as the host of The James Whale Radio Show in Leeds. The radio presenter was a big name on talkSPORT for over 13 years and was a huge player in catapulting the station into unwavering success. Later, he starred in Celebrity Big Brother in 2016 where he was regarded as one of the show's favourite personalities. The former Celebrity Big Brother star had been fighting brain, spine, kidney, and lung cancer. In 2000, the broadcasting star had one of his kidneys removed due to a cancerous tumor on it. However, after feeling unwell for about a year, the radio DJ visited a doctor and was given the news cancer had returned in August. James was undergoing immunotherapy and hormone replacement treatment while awaiting a prognosis. He had hopes of returning to work in a bid to avoid chemotherapy. After sharing his diagnosis, James admitted that he thought about ending his life by euthanasia. The talkRADIO star lamented the thought "might as well go and get it over with" crossed his mind at first. He told The Sun: 'I came home, had a little think about things. I decided I'm just booking myself a trip to Dignitas. You might as well just go and get it over with. 'I'd looked into it quite some time ago because Melinda died two years ago and it's been something in the back of my mind.' He continued: 'This little bastard has spread. It's in my remaining kidney. I've got a couple of small lesions in my lungs. I've got it in my spine. I've got it in my brain.' He survived his wife Melinda who died two years ago in 2018 after a long battle with lung cancer. James rocketed to fame in the 1980s when he established himself as the host of The James Whale Radio Show in Leeds.
Daily Record
8 minutes ago
- Daily Record
ITV Coronation Street fans 'work out' who has Logan 'killed' after brutal exit
Viewers think they know what really happened to Logan Radcliffe and who had him 'attacked' amid speculation he's been killed off after his exit aired On Friday's episode of Coronation Street, fears for Logan's life mounted after he appeared to be attacked following a revealing conversation with Carla Connor during a prison visit. The villain seemed to have divulged too much information to Carla, and shortly after a fellow inmate cautioned him about being overly talkative. A visibly shaken Logan protested his innocence as the cell door shut, hinting at an imminent assault. It comes as actor Harry Lowbridge announced his departure from the ITV soap, having wrapped filming his final scenes. This led viewers to speculate that Logan had met a grim fate in the cell, possibly orchestrated by someone wanting to silence him after his mention of a mysterious figure named Tia Wardley. Carla had been seeking clarity on the circumstances surrounding her partner Lisa Swain 's late wife Becky Swain's death. Lisa found herself unable to move on, plagued by uncertainties regarding Becky's troubles prior to her death and the reasons behind her fatal hit and run. During her visit to extract details from Logan about Becky, he demanded £10,000 in exchange for potential information. In the process he inadvertently mentioned Tia Wardley, though no further explanation was provided about their identity or connection to Becky, as reported by the Mirror. The mention of Wardley was enough to put Logan in hot water with a cellmate who shared a "mutual friend" they had both apparently angered, suggesting Logan needed to be permanently silenced. Following the cliffhanger, Harry confirmed his Corrie exit to his Instagram followers. This led fans to believe that Logan had met his demise and to speculation about who the mutual acquaintance is, and how they connect to the Becky storyline. Some predict a plot twist, suggesting that the individual behind Logan's demise could be none other than previous show antagonist Harvey Gaskell. Some suspect it's DI Costello or even Lisa's therapist Floyd, as they are eager for Lisa to cease her investigation into Becky's fate. Lisa herself was also suggested as a potential suspect, while both Becky and Tia were hinted by viewers to be the "mutual friend". One fan took to social media to declare: "Lisa definitely had Logan killed in prison." Another viewer speculated: "So that mutual friend? Costello? Kit? Tia? Or Becky herself?" A third chimed in: "Best guess at the moment is Costello or Floyd." Someone further added: "Was the killer sent by Costello?" while another queried: "Harvey?" Another comment read: "It's either Costello or Kit got Logan attacked inside."
Metro
9 minutes ago
- Metro
TalkTV presenter and radio broadcaster James Whale dies aged 74
TalkTV host and veteran radio broadcaster James Whale has died at the age of 74. News of his death was announced by Talk TV in a statement which read: 'The staff, presenters and friends of Talk are devastated at the passing of Talk presenter and broadcasting titan, James Whale MBE, who has died aged 74 after a long battle with cancer.' In an obituary read on air by colleague and friend Mike Graham, Talk paid tribute to Whale and his outstanding contribution to radio over the last six decades, and his eight years on Talk and talkRADIO. The British presenter and media personality was originally diagnosed with kidney cancer over 20 years ago—he underwent surgery at the time. However, in August 2020, he announced that his cancer had returned and spread to other parts of his body, including his spine, brain, and lungs. Whale faced the condition for a further XXXX years before his death. After news of his death broke, tributes poured in from across the industry. Whale was born in Surrey in 1951, initially expressing an interest in archery rather than radio—his first job was as a trainee buyer at Harrods in London. While working at the upscale department store, he was inspired to become a radio DJ, following in the footsteps of Tony Blackburn, Johnnie Walker, and David 'Kid' Jensen. He began his broadcasting career in 1970, working for Radio Topshop after initially being turned down for the position, and was working for Metro Radio in the northeast by 1974. In the 1980s, he launched a TV series, named after himself, on which comedian and writer Steve Coogan would make frequent and regular appearances. Later in his career, Whale worked for LBC radio and Play Radio UK, before presenting on BBC Radio Berkshire, BBC Three Counties Radio, and BBC WM, as well as doing occasional stints on BBC Radio Kent. In 2016, he entered the Celebrity Big Brother house and finished in ninth place, later making the move to talkRadio. He was briefly suspended by the station after appearing to laugh when an interviewee described how she had been sexually assaulted. Whale had announced in spring 2024 that he didn't expect to live much longer, admitting that he had already expected to die before receiving his MBE. The host was awarded the MBE after being a popular voice on radio and TV since the 1970s, starting his career at the age of just 22. Speaking after the ceremony, which saw him recognised for services to broadcasting, he told the PA news agency: 'I didn't think I'd be here to receive this. 'But who knows? I've been terminally ill now for nearly four years. 25 years ago, I had the original cancer. So I might make the end of this year; I might not. I might be around next year.' He continued, remaining defiant: 'I think you've got to be positive. I know it's getting a bit worse than it was. You just have to go with the flow, really. You have to do that to get through it. '1 in 2 of us is going to go on this journey until they find a cure. They will find a cure.' At the time, he also gave fans hope that he might live even longer, saying he was initially told he had a year to live in 2020. 'But you have to make the most of it,' he added. 'When you're my age—and I've had a good life—you say maybe you have another year left. Four years ago, we thought we had months.' Whale had revealed in 2022 that his treatment was no longer working and that he had stopped taking steroids, which made him 'look like a balloon'. Just before Christmas that year, he said his blood transfusions weren't 'doing the trick' anymore and that he had lungs 'full of blood clots' as he shared pictures from hospital at the time. More Trending Whale recorded his last-ever interview mid-July this year, after which colleagues declared him a 'legend' and a 'warrior to the end'. His interview took place with Reform leader Nigel Farage, who spoke in a garden setting. Affectionately known as 'Whaley,' the broadcaster's final interview aimed to celebrate his life and career. Whale's ex-wife, Melinda Maxted, also died from lung cancer in 2018. He is now survived by Nadine Talbot-Brown, whom he wed in 2021, and two sons from his first marriage, James and Peter. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. View More » MORE: Song Young-kyu, star of one of Korea's highest-grossing films ever, dies aged 55 MORE: Junkyard frontman David Roach dies age 59 two weeks after tying the knot MORE: Burt Reynolds' ex-wife and 80s actress Loni Anderson dies aged 79 after 'prolonged' illness
