‘Being in the limelight gives you ANXIETY'

Blue singer Duncan James opens up on why fame and social media has had such an effect on his mental health over the years

- HAYLEY MINN

Duncan James has been in the limelight for the last 20 years, having shot to fame as one-quarter of boy band Blue back in 2000.

And while there are many positive sides to fame, it’s also clearly taken a toll on his mental health. As Woman’s Own chats to the 42-year-old actor and singer, he opens up about the abuse he’s suffered throughout his career – as well as the trolling his 15-year-old daughter, Tianie, now receive too.

Duncan also reveals how he coped with lockdown, despite spending it away from his boyfriend.

Hi Duncan, how did you find the country’s lockdown?

Lockdown was great. I got to spend lots of time with my mum and my daughter. It was quite a nice, simplistic lifestyle. And it meant that I was in one place for longer than five minutes, which hasn’t happened for many, many years.

Were you able to see your boyfriend much?

I went away a few weeks ago to Germany to spend a weekend with my partner [Rodrigo Reis], which was really fun. He’s in Belgium, so we didn’t see each other for five months – which was horrendous.