Fearne Cotton reveals she felt 'lost' at the height of BBC Radio 1 fame
Fearne Cotton says she almost gave up on showbusiness after failing to reach the flying success of presenting idols Ant and Dec - recalling how she struggled with fame and felt confused about what was next.
The former Radio 1 presenter, w ho split from her husband Jesse Wood in December last year, admitted in a new episode of her Happy Place podcast to feeling 'lost' in her early thirties, despite having become a household name through her role as a TV presenter.
She said, "I got to this point where I found myself just really not liking what I was doing, finding the feedback loop of being on the radio and in the public eye, excruciating. I started to inflate other people's view of me with what I knew to be true about myself. Which is dangerous, really dangerous."
"I thought every negative thing said about me was true. I left radio and I just thought, 'What am I doing? What is the point of any of this?'
"And I honestly thought at that point, 'Maybe I just quit everything because it's all too painful'. And I wrote a book called Happy, and that was the first time I really spoke about anything remotely real, because you can't really do on the radio," continued Fearne.
"This is the first time where I said, 'Actually this is what's going on' rather than me just saying 'morning' and playing some happy music. It was like, actually, I'm going home and I'm crying and I don't know who I am anymore. I was in a real period of proper depression and on antidepressants".
After writing her 2017 book Happy, Fearne says she began to come out of the depression and found a love for work again, having since expanded the book into a Happy Place lifestyle brand.
It's not the first time Fearne has spoken about her battles with depression and mental health, often drawing on her own experiences when interviewing fellow celebrities on her podcast.
Last year, Fearne split from her husband of ten years Jesse Wood, whom she shares children Rex and Honey with.
While Fearne nor Jesse have shared why they ended their marriage, they did share a statement at the time which read: "It is with a heavy heart that I let you all know that Jesse and I are ending our marriage. Our priority has been and always will be our children. We please ask that you respect the privacy of our family at this time."
The break-up came five years after Fearne opened up about marital troubles they had faced in the past, writing in a column for Red Magazine at the time: "Love takes hard work - and no one wants to hear that. This year, Jesse and I hit a rough patch - he was away, touring relentlessly, [with his band, Reef].
"I was trying to keep my own career going while looking after our kids and we were both desperately clinging on to our marriage."
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Scottish Sun
7 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Inside little-known newborn trend made famous by Calvin Harris & Vick Hope – but not everyone agrees
Joanne Sked, who owns Livingston-based Placenta Solutions, has urged people to stop being squeamish about something so natural. AU NATURAL Inside little-known newborn trend made famous by Calvin Harris & Vick Hope – but not everyone agrees Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A SCOTS expert reckons Calvin Harris could give pregnant women the push they need - after his wife Vick Hope turned her placenta into edible pills. The superstar DJ, from Dumfries, 41, who is married to the Radio 1 host, 35, shocked fans when he shared graphic images showing the moments after son Micah was born - including the afterbirth. 4 Calvin Harris and Vick Hope got people talking after sharing birth photos. Credit: Getty 4 The couple got the placenta turned into capsules. Credit: Instagram 4 Joanne wants to see more people embrace their placenta. 4 The expert hopes Calvin Harris will inspire others to look into placenta. But Joanne Sked, who owns Livingston-based Placenta Solutions, has urged people to stop being squeamish about something so natural. The postnatal specialist, 48, said: 'Women back in the day did eat their placenta because it was harder to collect food. It's like going back to the very start. 'It's about not being squeamish about it and embracing it. We eat liver and stuff like that, so why wouldn't we eat our own placenta? 'People shouldn't be shocked because it's natural and if you were to go on a field and walk past a cow that had a baby, you'd see one there. 'A lot of mammals actually consume their placenta after they've given birth because of all the nutrients and things in it. 'Celebrities like Kim Kardashian have too and you know how regular people like to follow celebrities, so I think with Calvin Harris posting about it then it'll maybe get some of the men on board which is a really good thing.' Joanne studied midwifery from 2014 to 2018 and ended up helping other women as a companion from pregnancy through to postpartum - also known as a doula. From there she became a maternity nurse and was responsible for helping mums transition to having a baby at home. She learned about the benefits of the placenta and started her own business that offers all kinds of remedies involving the birthing organ. As well as different methods of capsules, she sells a Tincture - a product where a small piece of placenta is steeped in alcohol for six weeks. I paid almost £300 to get my placenta fried up and turned into pills She also makes oils for cosmetic products and turns umbilical chords into keepsakes. Joanne said: 'The benefits of postnatal encapsulation is that it can help with postnatal bleeding, with energy levels and it helps with stabilising the hormones. 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It attaches to the uterine wall and provides nutrients and oxygen to babies through the umbilical cord. The placenta starts as a few cells and grows to be several inches long. The third stage of labour is when the placenta and the bag that held the baby and the amniotic fluid are delivered. In most hospital units, the third stage is 'actively managed' because it is known that women who opt to have this are at less risk of significant blood loss at delivery. However, others choose a physiological, 'unaided' third stage where breastfeeding and skin to skin contact release hormones that will eventually deliver the placenta. Some people can push the placenta out. But it's more likely a midwife will help deliver it by putting a hand on the tummy to protect your womb and keeping the cord pulled tight. This is called cord traction. The placenta will come away, and the blood vessels that were holding on to it will close off as the womb gets smaller to prevent bleeding. 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BBC News
2 days ago
- BBC News
BBC Music set to bring the best of Reading and Leeds Festival 2025 to audiences nationwide
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This year, it promises unforgettable performances from the most influential and exciting names in indie, alternative, hip-hop and dance with over twenty emerging artists set to perform including the UK's rising country star, Chanel Yates, also known as The Cowgirl Polly Pocket, who will headline Friday at Reading and Saturday at Leeds. Egyptian-Sudanese singer-songwriter, Nxdia, will bring their powerful alt-pop signature songs to headline Reading on Saturday and Leeds on Sunday. South-East Londoner, Amie Blu, recognised for her stunning soulful voice, will headline Friday at Leeds and Sunday at Reading, plus many more exciting acts. One track from each artist performing on the BBC Introducing stage will be filmed and made available on the BBC Music YouTube channel and form a compilation programme for BBC iPlayer. In addition, BBC Introducing in Oxfordshire & Berkshire will present a special highlights show of Reading Festival on 28 August, whilst BBC Introducing in Leeds & Sheffield, and BBC Introducing in York & Humberside will broadcast live from Leeds on Saturday 23 August (8-10pm), with Emily Pilbeam, Christian Carlisle, and Jericho Keys. Both broadcasts will feature live performances and interviews from the BBC Introducing Stages. EC2 Follow for more
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Scottish Sun
BBC star reveals real reason she quit Radio 1 as she reveals heartbreaking health condition
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A BBC star has revealed the real reason she quit Radio 1, as she revealed her heartbreaking health condition. Clara, who spent ten years as a DJ on Radio 1 and now fronts a raft of culture programming for the BBC, got candid on the Happy Place podcast. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 3 A BBC star has revealed the real reason she quit Radio 1, as she revealed her heartbreaking health condition Credit: Getty 3 She spoke about the pressure to 'get the next viral clip' while working on the show Credit: BBC She revealed her battle with 'deep deep depression,' saying 'I was in the trenches', and how she took time off before then deciding that she wanted to quit. Clara, 41, said: 'The start of 2023, I was in the flipping trenches. 'I was burnt out, I wasn't taking care of myself properly and I think I was a bit overwhelmed by life's injustices. I just wasn't feeling great and I was in a bit of a negative headspace.' She continued: 'I was feeling really, really depressed sort of mid 2023 and I took some time off radio, and just had to have a little reset. That is when I decided I was going to leave my show.' In her interview with Fearne Cotton on the podcast, she also spoke about the pressure to 'get the next viral clip' while working on the show. Clara said: 'I had mixed reactions. Obviously are bosses, who are lovely, were like 'but why.' 'I'm one of these people where I am so passionate about what I do that I never want to resent anything, I don't want anything to feel like it's forced or a chore. 'And I want to be able to listen to music always as a fan, rather than as a business, and I want to be able to talk to people on a human level without thinking 'got to get that viral interview clip.'' Clara quit Radio 1 in 2023, and said at the time: "I'm so proud of the work I've been able to do on every show, whether it's been from the 8th floor, a city in the UK or a pop star's house across the pond. Watch as Clara Amfo reveals child sexual abuse by family friend "I'm grateful to have had the ears of the listeners who have consistently shown up for me. I'm enamoured by everyone I've had the privilege of working alongside for each and every broadcast." She continued: "I'm energised and excited for my next chapter as part of the network and beyond." During her time helming the show, she has helped elevate new artists through her "hottest record" feature. Amfo previously hosted Radio 1's Live Lounge, The Official Chart on Radio 1, and her 1Xtra programme.
