Linda Robson broke down in tears as she revealed how her ‘Loose Women’ co-stars helped her through hard times.
Loose Women Live is touring until the end of September
The 65-year-old star is a long-serving panellist on the ITV1 lunchtime chat show but had to take a year-long break in 2019 for the sake of her mental health and explained that all of her colleagues were there for her during such a dark period.
Speaking on stage during ‘Loose Women Live’ on Wednesday (06.08.23), she said: “A few years ago, I used to drink a bottle of wine every night. Then it was two. So I stopped drinking the wine and started eating more sugar. I knew things weren’t right and I ended up in the Priory. I’ve always been the strong one in my family but this time they had to look after me and I felt guilty. I ruined Christmas, I got so drunk. It was horrific.
“We used to go to Ibiza, me, Jane, Stacey, Nadia, and Kaye. And I had a breakdown. I was drinking, I had OCD.
“Anyway, Stacey [Solomon] came home early with me, and took me straight to the Priory. Someone started taking pictures of me and she said ‘I’m not leaving you here’. So we went home and eventually, they found somewhere for me to go.
“But, for that year I was off, every one of the Loose Women rang to make sure I was okay. Janet Street-Porter rang every day. I’m gonna start crying. I said I didn’t need the bloody tissues on the table! So that was three years ago and since then I’ve been able to come back and I’m doing really well.”
After being handed a tissue from a member of the audience, the ‘Birds of a Feather’ actress went on to hail Janet – who is known for displaying a tough demeanor on screen – as a “lovely woman” with whom she has been friends for decades.
She added: “Janet is actually the most lovely woman. I’ve known her since 1976, she rang me every day. She lives round the corner from me, she frightens the life out of me sometimes. She hates Halloween so I go round with a mask on and she goes ‘F*** of!’”
Elsewhere during Wednesday’s show at the O2 City Hall in Newcastle, Sun columnist Jane Moore emotionally recalled working as a reporter when Princess Diana died, former ‘Coronation Street’ actress Denise Welch spoke of her childhood memories in the North East, and anchor Charlene White kept things in check by running the order of the show.
As part of the tour, the television stars were able to delve into raunchier topics not normally permitted on daytime TV and competed in risqué games like Never Have I Ever.
A rotation of panellists from ‘Loose Women’ are currently making their way across the country for their live stage show, which will see other regular stars like Christine Lampard, Frankie Bridge and Dame Kelly Holmes reveal never-before heard stories and secrets.
‘Loose Women Live’ is touring until the end of September.
More details: loosewomen.live
Tagged in Stacey Solomon Linda Robson Nadia Sawalha