Fighting Back: ‘I Still Live With Depression But Life Can Be Wonderful'

Actress and loose woman panellist denise welch opens up about her darkest days and why she wishes she’d had her new book the unwelcome visitor to help her during the tough times

- Vicki Power

Denise Welch is a bubbly woman who brings fizz and fun to TV’s Loose Women, where she’s been a panellist on and off on since 2005. But she has also won praise for being so open about her 30-year struggle with depression, which plunged her into despair and led to alcoholism and drug-taking in a bid to self-medicate.

During Denise’s last bout of serious depression in September last year, she was overwhelmed by support after posting films of herself weeping. Denise was hailed for her bravery in showing herself at her most vulnerable and highlighting what depression is really like.

In fact, Denise was so moved by the supportive responses that she decided to write a deeply personal and occasionally harrowing book, The Unwelcome Visitor, detailing her three-decades-long struggle with the mental illness. “I knew it would take me to difficult places, but it’s a book I wanted when I was feeling poorly.”

Today, Denise, 62, chats exclusively to OK! about the book and how she’s survived lockdown in Cheshire with her husband of seven years, acclaimed artist Lincoln Townley, 47. Her children with ex-husband Tim Healy – 31-year-old Matt of the band The 1975 and 19-year-old actor Louis – have been quarantined together.

When we speak, Denise is having a bad day and is a bit tearful, but talks frankly and with humour about lockdown, love and depression...

Denise, in your book you describe your sometimes terrifying and disturbing bouts of depression. Why did you decide to lay yourself bare like this?