Fearne Cotton admits she used to ‘hide in the bathroom’ when she presented Radio 1 due to ‘crippling anxiety’ as she opens up on her ‘excruciating time’ on the BBC show

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As a dedicated follower of Fearne Cotton‘s career, I have always admired her strength and resilience, especially during her difficult times at BBC Radio 1. It’s heartbreaking to know that she felt trapped and incapable, hiding in bathrooms to escape the anxiety that plagued her daily.

Fearne Cotton confessed that during her tenure hosting BBC Radio 1, she would often seek solace in the restrooms due to her distressing experiences. She recently disclosed details about her ‘painful period.’

For a year in 2008, the TV host, aged 42, was the face of that radio station. Then, from 2009 to 2015, she switched to hosting her own daily program on weekdays.

However, managing her panic attacks was not a straightforward task for Fearne, as she would occasionally slip away to use the restroom during breaks between songs.

Fearne admitted that she found it incredibly difficult while working at the BBC, leading to intense bouts of anxiety.

In an interview with The Shift podcast, I admitted that I found it challenging, almost overwhelming, to communicate with such a vast audience daily, particularly when addressing my mental health concerns.

She expressed that she regrets how things were in the past, as her experience on Radio 1 was extremely challenging for her.

Back then, it seemed impossible for me to share my struggles with others, as we were unaware that one could openly express difficulties and seek guidance like saying, “I’m in a tough spot right now, and I don’t have a clue about how to move forward.”

‘And there’s still a long way to go but I’m so glad that there is at least a crack in the door.

I’m really pleased that things have evolved, but looking back, I found it incredibly challenging when I felt utterly incapable of performing my duties and speaking to millions every day while quietly eroding on the inside.

Occasionally, I might leave my seat during a song to visit the restroom and remain there for a while without disclosing the reason behind it.

In 2015, Fearne departed Radio 1 after announcing she fell pregnant with her second child.

In 2016, she went back to BBC Radio 2, but after another five years, she decided to take a step back to concentrate on her emotional well-being.

She added: ‘As I started to get back into work, literally out of the blue, I started getting panic attacks. 

Have you considered the possibility that my recent state could be the aftermath of a bout with depression, serving as a sudden jolt to my perspective: since it seemed an abrupt change.

In my thirties, I experienced frequent panic attacks that seemed relentless. A swift ride in a car or appearing on live television or radio could easily set them off.

For a while, I stood my ground, filling in for Zoe Ball on live radio. However, after about a year, things became challenging as I could handle the on-air duties just fine, but my sleep was disrupted and I suffered from panic attacks that kept me awake for hours every night, which was truly dreadful.

For several nights, I couldn’t sleep, so I informed Radio 2 that I was no longer in a mental state to handle live performances, and thus resigned from an excellent position.

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2024-08-20 19:09