‘I don’t have to pretend or lie anymore’: Fearne Cotton reveals how speaking out about her anxiety changed her life – and says her days are now a mix of ‘hummus and glamour’

  • EXCLUSIVE: Fearne Cotton is launching children's range with Boots Mini Club
  • Presenter, 36, said she tries to be realistic about her life on social media 
  • Said it's a relief not to be open about who she really is after discussing anxiety
  • Looks back fondly on her more hectic showbiz lifestyle, but has found balance 

By SIOFRA BRENNAN FOR MAILONLINE

Published: | Updated:

Fearne Cotton has opened up about the relief she felt at revealing her struggles with depression and anxiety, saying it felt 'right' to finally show the 'real' her. 

The mother-of-two who left her daily presenting slot with Radio 1 in 2015 said her life is now a mixture of 'hummus and glamour' but has now found balance. 

Speaking at the launch of her new children's clothing range for Boots Mini Club  Fearne, 36, told FEMAIL that her decision to open up about her struggles has changed her life for the better.  

'It has helped in every way, it just felt right to be the real me in every aspect,' she said. It has paid dividends in so many ways, from what people presume about me to how I work and how I present myself. 

'I don’t have to pretend or lie anymore, but rather than a big reveal it was about peeling back the layers. Being honest is never a bad thing.' 

Fearne who shares two children Rex and Honey with husband Jesse Wood has gone from working seven day weeks to combining motherhood with her presenting career. 

'It’s not something that I necessarily think about, it’s just my life,' she said. 'It’s part hummus covered and nappy filled and at other times seemingly glamourous. 

Speaking at the launch of her new children's clothing range for Boots Mini Club Fearne, 36, has revealed how being open about her mental health battles has changed her life for the better

Speaking at the launch of her new children's clothing range for Boots Mini Club Fearne, 36, has revealed how being open about her mental health battles has changed her life for the better

The mother-of-two said she tries to portray her life realistically on social media, sharing both the everyday and the glamorous moments 

The mother-of-two said she tries to portray her life realistically on social media, sharing both the everyday and the glamorous moments 

'It’s a bit of everything and all I can do is portray the reality of it. Sometimes I’m wiping up the children’s mess from the floor and the next interviewing someone fabulous like Coldplay.

'There is no set routine ever. The only routine is that the kids wake up so early every day and I neck a load of coffee. 

'It could involve me doing the school run, staying at home with the kids all day, writing at home or out at events. Every day is different and I love that.

I think I post a realistic image of my life online and you can take that for what it is.

The mother-of-two admitted that her life is sometimes glamorous, but a lot of it involves dealing with spilled hummus and nappies 

The mother-of-two admitted that her life is sometimes glamorous, but a lot of it involves dealing with spilled hummus and nappies 

'We all have to look at social media and understand it’s a complete fantasy and that’s where the disconnect is. It’s your choice to view it as fantasy or verbatim truth. 

'Some people choose to only show the best bits but that’s their choice and how you view it is your responsibility. 

'So there’s no blame involved it’s just how you perceive it and extract that information and put it into context into your own life.' 

While Fearne doesn't miss her hectic showbiz days, she still looks back fondly and that time. 

Fearne Cotton's battle with anxiety 

Fearne Cotton secretly battled depression during her 20s and got used to 'putting on a fake smile' when going to work at Radio 1, while in private she would 'cry and feel numb'.

The mother-of-two says she eventually 'realised something was very wrong' when a friend suggested that she should see a doctor.

Fearne also admitted that she feels anxious and overwhelmed at glitzy showbiz events, and says she avoids social media when she's feeling down.

Fearne, who has written two self-help books Calm and Happy has now has learnt to look after her mental health, but still feels anxious at red carpet events. 

The Top Of The Pops host has been outspoken about her mental health struggles in the past, describing how she suffered a panic attack on a motorway.

Speaking to You magazine in December, she said it had happened while she was driving on the M4 chatting with a friend.

She said: 'My lungs started pumping like a set of bagpipes and the world around me started to spin. I managed to pull over and explain to [my friend] Clare why our conversation had come to a swift end and we were now on the hard shoulder.

'What was going on? No stress, no drama, yet my body had taken a turn for the worse. I'd had a panic attack.'

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'The crazier times which involved flying to LA every few days. Covering events like the Oscars or doing a radio show and then flying out to LA to interview Paris Hilton and then back again to London for a radio show, it was bonkers. 

I was on a million different time zones and it was amazing, but I couldn’t do it now because I’ve chosen to be a mum. But I did love that part of my life and do look back fondly on it.'

These days, she finds her kids are a great source of inspiration and her latest range for Boots Mini Club was inspired by Honey and Rex.  

Fearne and her husband Jesse Wood at the Glamour Women Of The Year Awards in 2016

Fearne and her husband Jesse Wood at the Glamour Women Of The Year Awards in 2016

'I know how much my kids run around and are active so when designing the shape of the clothes I wanted to ensure comfort and being very wearable was a top priority,' she said. 

'Print-wise the girls range is based all around cats as Honey loves cats and our black cat, Tallulah, so there’s some pieces with a lovely cat silhouette on.

Definitely, Honey is a tomboy and will only wear joggers and leggings and clothes with cats on especially anything fluffy. There’s one teddy bear jumper that she wants to wear relentlessly. 

'Rex is very eccentric, he either loves wearing tracksuit bottoms and a band t-shirt, he has a Nirvana one he particularly likes. 

'But then at weekends he’s partial to a shirt, bow-tie and waistcoat look. The other day we went to a trampoline party and he decided to wear this outfit, channelling a Peaky Blinders look. 

'I tried telling him it wasn’t going to work on the soft play area but he was adamant he was going to wear it.'

Fearne revealed how her children's range was inspired by her children, including her daughter Honey's love of cats 

Fearne revealed how her children's range was inspired by her children, including her daughter Honey's love of cats 

Fearne Cotton

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