TV presenter Fearne Cotton has candidly shared her experiences with “moments of total despair” while offering a glimpse into her personal life.
In an interview with the I newspaper, the 43-year-old discussed how one particular book has been a source of solace during tough times.
Expressing the impact the book has had, Fearne said: “In moments of total despair, this book (The Four Agreements) has allowed me to find a tiny chink of space to feel hope. It has the power to crack open negative thought loops so you can let yourself off the hook.”
She also touched on her struggles with self-criticism and how she’s learned to manage these feelings: “I can be very hard on myself and end up in a cycle of hateful thoughts about myself if I’m not careful. I’ve certainly got better at dispelling those cycles with age and experience, but if I can feel one nearing, this is the book I pick up.”
On her Happy Place podcast, Fearne opened up about attending therapy and the significant positive impact it’s had on her mental health. She revealed: “It’s difficult to put into words how monumental it has been. A lot of my struggles stem from issues in my past which still affect me, and therapy provides me with strategies to find some semblance of peace.”
Fearne started her broadcasting career at the tender age of 15, presenting GMTV’s children’s show, The Disney Club. In the years that followed, she quickly established herself as a familiar face in children’s television, reports Lancs Live.
Her big break came in 2003 when she co-presented Top of The Pops: Saturday with Simon Grant. Since then, her career has soared, making her a well-known figure on television. Down the years she has stepped in for guest presenting duties on shows including Loraine and the BBC’s One Show.
One of her most memorable roles was in 2008 when she joined Holly Willoughby and Keith Lemon on ITV2’s Celebrity Juice. However, away from her work in TV, Fearne is also regularly seen interviewing a variety of celebrities on her highly-popular Happy Place podcast.