Lauren's TOWIE return is 'healing'

She's back on the show that made her a star and it's put her in a "better place", Lauren Goodger tells new

- Gemma McCartney and Eve Macdonald

TOWIE’s Lauren Goodger has faced intense emotional trauma that would break even the toughest of people. In July 2022, the 37-year-old suffered a heartbreaking loss when her second daughter, Lorena, passed away just minutes after being born. This tragedy happened less than a week after her former boyfriend Jake McLean died in a car crash while on holiday in Turkey. She’s also been through ups and downs in her tumultuous relationship with her ex Charles Drury, who is also father to her daughter Larose.

Now, in an exclusive chat, Lauren has revealed that her priority is being a mum to Larose, two, and protecting her mental health. But her road to recovery started with quitting alcohol after suffering a string of panic attacks.

“I haven’t really drunk much now for the last four years,” Lauren explained. “It’s only on odd occasions mainly because of becoming a mum and also the trauma of losing my daughter, plus everything else that I went through around that time. It was horrendous.

“I’d get panic attacks and anxiety when I drank. I did try drinking a few times a couple of months apart, but it never agreed with me. I get anxiety and panicky with or without alcohol but [the panic attacks] were scary.”

Lauren – who first appeared on the hit ITVBe reality show in 2010 and later left in 2015 – admitted she loved the odd pornstar martini, glass of wine or cheeky prosecco, but now her days of partying are well and truly behind her.