TV presenter Fearne Cotton has opened up about a period two years ago when she felt "debilitated" and "crippled with anxiety," becoming "sort of a hermit" during a time of personal challenges.
Health and Separation
The 44-year-old broadcaster and podcaster underwent surgery in December 2024 to remove two benign tumours from her jaw. A week later, it was announced she had separated from her husband Jesse Wood, son of Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood, after 10 years of marriage.
In an interview with The Sun on Sunday, the mother-of-two described being "stuck in deep anxiety" during this turbulent period.
Living in Fear
Cotton explained how her anxiety spiralled: "I was very scared of getting things wrong, getting socialising wrong. I built up a snowball of anxiety that could be triggered by just stumbling over a word in a conversation."
She recounted how social events became exhausting: "I could go to a party and then come home and repeat every word that I'd said on a loop, and I couldn't sleep. It was just nuts. I was crippled with anxiety. I had panic attacks constantly."
The presenter added: "There were lots of things I couldn't do – I couldn't drive a car, couldn't do a lot of TV work I'd been doing. I just felt debilitated."
Finding the Root Cause
Cotton, who has been in the public eye since age 15, has often spoken about anxiety and the pressures of fame. She shared that a therapist linked her recent struggles to unexpressed anger she was finding hard to channel in a "healthy way."
She said: "We all know that stress will manifest physically. I had a tumour in my face two years ago that I had removed, and as soon as I had it diagnosed, I was like, 'oh, I know exactly what that is'. That is clutching my jaw. I was so intense and livid before the therapist had revealed this epiphany. It's not good for us. We know it's not. I'm pretty sure it is disastrous for all physical health."
Recovery and Hope
Cotton now says she is "having loads of fun" and believes recovery is possible: "For anyone stuck in deep anxiety, I believe it's absolutely possible to get out of it. If it's debilitating to the point where you can't do things, you've got to face things that you might not want to face."
Her priority now is enjoying life, noting that positive moments with friends and loved ones can "boost me for an entire week of solo parenting."
Cotton began her career as a teenager on children's TV, later hosting shows like Top Of The Pops, The Xtra Factor, and Celebrity Juice. She also hosted her own BBC Radio 1 show until 2015, stepping back to focus on her mental health. She now runs the wellness brand Happy Place, which includes a podcast featuring conversations with celebrity guests about life, love, and loss.
