‘I don't LIVE IN FEAR any more'

Andrea McLean talks to Woman’s Own about going through a nervous breakdown and how she overcame it

- ROBYN MORRIS

During the lockdown, ITV’s Loose Women was off the air for six weeks. Then, during the first show back, anchor presenter Andrea McLean bravely admitted that last year, she went through a nervous breakdown. However, the revelation wasn’t planned. ‘It came out by accident!’ she says.

Now, Andrea is feeling better than ever and has written her third book, This Girl Is On Fire, offering self-help advice for women going through similar troubles.

Here, Andrea, 51, who has children Finlay, 18, and Amy, 13, reveals what was behind her breakdown, what she’s learnt about herself, and how her businessman husband Nick Feeney helped her through the darkest of days…

Was there one thing that brought your breakdown to the fore, and how do you feel about it now?

SAS: Who Dares Wins [on C4, in which Andrea took part last year]. It was a shock, but the best shock I’ve ever had. It reminded me that I can do more than I think I can.

Did you keep it to yourself?