
Reality TV star Jess Wright says she had ‘debilitating' postnatal depression
The former The Only Way Is Essex cast member, 39, and her husband William Lee-Kemp have a child, Presley, who she had in May 2022.
In a film to be broadcast on the BBC's Morning Live programme, Wright opens up about her experience of postnatal depression, exploring the condition with other women whose families have been affected by it.
In the film, Wright said: 'Since my mid-20s I've lived with depression and anxiety.
'I take medication which generally keeps it under control.
'However, a few days after I had my son Presley I developed depression in a way I'd never experienced before – it was debilitating, I couldn't enjoy anything with my new son and I wanted the world to stop so I could get off.'
According to NHS Inform, one in five women develop mental health problems, such as depression or anxiety, during pregnancy or the first year after having a child.
Wright explores these figures in the film by speaking to different women who have experienced the effects of postnatal depression.
She also revealed she was not given clear advice about her own medication during her pregnancy, saying: 'It was quite a grey area when I was pregnant, about the medication that I'm on, whether I should come off it when I'm pregnant.
'Having a baby is wonderful but also tough for many people.
'But knowing where to turn for support has helped me feel better prepared if I decide to have another child.'
The film, made by BBC Studios Entertainment Productions, will air during Morning Live on Friday at 9.30am on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Mirror
31 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Noel Edmonds launches TV comeback with a little help from a very famous face
Noel Edmonds launches TV comeback with a little help from blobby Noel Edmonds will launch a TV comeback later this month - with a little help from his old pal Mr Blobby. ITV are screening Noel Edmond's Kiwi Adventure in the next few weeks. It will see Noel, 76, back on primetime TV. The series shows how after appearing on British TV for over 50 years Noel Edmonds left the country in 2018 and travelled 11,500 miles to build a brand-new life in New Zealand with his wife Liz. The series will show him trying to build New Zealand's first energy garden and a fledgling business. Two years ago, they bought land around Ngatimoti, a small rural town and built a hospitality business in the heart of the community, including a vineyard, coffee cart, general store and restaurant & pub, which is about to reopen to the public for its second full season. On a trailer released today, Noel says: "New Zealand is a great place to come to it's not the easiest place to set up a business. We're haemorrhaging money at the moment, what Liz and I wish to achieve is community." Mr Blobby then appears on screen and he adds with a laugh: "You travel halfway round the world and he turns up!" He also shows his pub is called 'The Bugger Inn' and features a Crinkley Bottom mug from his days hosting Noel's House Party on BBC. In March, rumours of the show leaked out and it draw comparisons with Jeremy Clarkson show Clarkson's Farm, which airs on Prime Video. But Clarkson's Farm is now making money and it remains to be seen if Noel can ensure his business makes a profit as he has to cope with unseasonal bad weather and "feelings of being an outsider". In 2018, Noel went on I'm A Celebrity and picked up a reported £600,000 fee and a feeling he could be one of the leaders of the camp for the rest of the series. But in one of the biggest shocks in reality TV history Noel Edmonds was the first contestant to leave the show that year. Rather than try to make more TV he then headed to New Zealand soon after to begin a new life. Noel started his broadcasting career hosting Top of the Pops in the early 70s and later went on to present nineties hit Noel's House Party with beloved Mr Blobby and Deal Or No Deal.


Metro
42 minutes ago
- Metro
Fresh upset for Yolande and Patrick in EastEnders as relationship hits crisis
Patrick and Yolande Trueman's relationship hits the rocks (Picture: BBC) The relationship between Patrick (Rudolph Walker) and Yolande Trueman (Angela Wynter) comes under pressure after cracks emerge in next week's EastEnders. Walford icons Patrick and Yolande have weathered much over the course of their decades-long romance, first tying the knot during a small ceremony in 2004. The pair split in 2008, after Yolande was offered a job in Birmingham – leaving behind Patrick, who was reluctant to walk away from his home in Walford. The pair subsequently finalised their divorce, but were unable to let each other go. After an affair in 2023, Patrick realised that Yolande was his one true love, and beseeched her to stay on Albert Square with him. Since then, Yolande and Patrick have had to contend with her sexual assault at the hands of Pastor Clayton (Howard Saddler), as a devastated Patrick attempted to remain supportive and by her side throughout. However, they were both left profoundly changed by the experience – not to mention Clayton's decision to take his own life when confronted with the consequences – and their relationship continues to reckon with the aftermath to this day. Patrick's been acting distant recently (Picture: BBC) As the week begins, Yolande feels hurt when Patrick makes excuses to get out of giving her a massage. Later, Yolande opens up to Denise about the state of her relationship with Patrick. She tells her how she fears that things will never be the same between them again. Torn, Denise tries to support Yolande and Patrick through their relationship crisis. With Yolande questioning their future, Patrick fights for her by making a grand gesture. But will it work? Can Patrick and Yolande save their relationship? (Picture: BBC) Yolande first arrived in Walford in 2003, having met Patrick while he was on holiday in Trinidad. Yolande left her husband at the time, Victor Duke, for Patrick – with Patrick even turning down a £10,000 offer from Victor to end their affair and return his wife to Trinidad. Ten months after her arrival on Albert Square, she and Patrick were married, and managed several businesses together – including The Minute Mart and Bed and Breakfast. Patrick and Yolande were married in 2004 (Picture: BBC) Their marriage hit the rocks in 2008, when she accepted a job without him in Birmingham, and their divorce was finalised a year later. Yolande briefly returned to the soap in 2017, paying a visit to Patrick as he celebrated his birthday. By 2023, the pair were having a fully-fledged affair behind her new partner Anton's back. Realising that Yolande was his one true love, Patrick fought for Yolande, and managed to convince her to return home. Patrick supported Yolande in after her experience with Pastor Clayton (Picture: BBC) Patrick and Yolande are one of EastEnders' most beloved soap couples, and the warmth of that relationship extends behind the scenes, to actors Rudolph and Angela. Of her screen partnership with Rudolph, Angela said: 'I feel very comfortable with Rudolph – he's my brother, my friend, my uncle, he's everybody! 'There's a bit of every relative I have in him. We've known each other for so many years. 'I played his maid first when I was a young girl in a play, then I played his daughter in a TV movie, and then I came to play his girlfriend and then wife at EastEnders. 'It's a long relationship of love and respect, and I could play any character with him. There is a deep friendship between us; we trust each other and have each other's back. It's all very natural with him.' If you've got a soap or TV story, video or pictures get in touch by emailing us soaps@ – we'd love to hear from you. Join the community by leaving a comment below and stay updated on all things soaps on our homepage. Arrow MORE: All 61 EastEnders spoiler pictures for next week as diagnosis is confirmed


Telegraph
2 hours ago
- Telegraph
Pictured: Algerian thief who threatened to behead Aled Jones
A thief who threatened to behead Aled Jones with a machete went on to steal a Bridgerton actresses's phone after being released early from youth detention. Zacariah Boulares, an Algerian national who has 12 previous convictions relating to 28 offences, has now been pictured for the first time after turning 18. Aged just 16, he approached Jones, a BBC Songs of Praise presenter, who was walking through Chiswick in west London with his son, and threatened to cut his arm off with a machete unless he handed over his £17,000 Rolex. Wimbledon youth court was told he later threatened to behead the 54-year-old if he continued following him after the mugging on July 7 2023. He had also previously stolen a Rolex worth £20,000 from a 78-year-old man at Paddington station in west London. After stealing Jones's watch, Boulares appeared late to court hearings on several occasions before eventually pleading guilty to robbery and possession of an offensive weapon and was detained in youth custody. Two years later, having served 14 months of his 24-month detention and training order, he snatched the phone of Bridgerton actress Genevieve Chenneour from a coffee shop table in Kensington, west London, in February. Chenneour played Miss Clara Livingston in the third season of the Netflix period drama. Boulares attacked the actress when she confronted him, leaving her with concussion and he also kicked and punched another customer who tried to stop him from escaping from Joe & The Juice. Boulares admitted stealing her phone and assaulting another customer when he appeared at Westminster magistrates' court last week via video link from HMP Wormwood Scrubs. In a separate charge, he pleaded guilty to another theft after he stole a black leather bag from a customer at a pizza restaurant. He has been remanded in custody and will be sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court on June 17.