Matthew Kelly, 74, confesses he’s ‘s*** with money’ after losing all his Stars In Their Eyes earnings and reveals he used to drink so much cast mates nicknamed him ‘Muriel Malbec’

Matthew Kelly, 74, confesses he's 's*** with money' after losing all his Stars In Their Eyes earnings and reveals he used to drink so much cast mates nicknamed him 'Muriel Malbec'

As I delve into the heartfelt journey of Denise Welch, a woman who has bravely faced and conquered her battle with alcohol, I find myself deeply moved by her resilience and strength. Her story is one of transformation, not just for herself, but also for her family and loved ones.


Matthew Kelly openly admitted that he struggles with managing finances, which means he must continue working even after using up all the income he earned during his peak TV career.

Throughout the ’90s, the renowned broadcaster and actor, aged 74, was at the helm of some of ITV’s most popular programs. These included talent show Stars In Their Eyes from 1993 to 2004, as well as game shows like You Bet and Game For A Laugh during that period.

On Kate Thornton’s White Wine Question Time, Matthew candidly confessed to regretting not saving funds for his retirement years, while also discussing his drinking habits.

It turns out that baby Jesus didn’t make me rich, but rather quite the opposite when it comes to finances. As a result, I have no choice but to keep working, which is actually beneficial for me because I feel the need to escape my home.

As the host highlighted his unique perspective on financial matters, Matthew responded, “To be honest, it’s not my forte. You see, I’ve never been good with money, and honestly, I wish I could save some.

Matthew Kelly, 74, confesses he's 's*** with money' after losing all his Stars In Their Eyes earnings and reveals he used to drink so much cast mates nicknamed him 'Muriel Malbec'

Matthew Kelly, 74, confesses he's 's*** with money' after losing all his Stars In Their Eyes earnings and reveals he used to drink so much cast mates nicknamed him 'Muriel Malbec'
Matthew Kelly, 74, confesses he's 's*** with money' after losing all his Stars In Their Eyes earnings and reveals he used to drink so much cast mates nicknamed him 'Muriel Malbec'

In the course of events, I found myself drawing parallels between Matthew and the dynamic duo Ant and Dec of their era. A question that lingered in my mind was: What became of his wealth? Or perhaps the TV industry during the ’90s wasn’t as lucrative as one might assume.

He said: ‘Well, there was money, but it’s all gone. Well, actually, do you know what?  I did read in one article how much I was supposed to be getting per episode’. 

‘And I thought, “oh, if only!” you know. And you read it. But in actual fact, I was being paid very well. So it’s not as if you could go “excuse me, I think you’ll find that I’m only being paid a fraction of that!” but even the fraction you know was pretty good’. 

In another part of the interview, Matthew opened up about his past heavy drinking habits and shared that his fellow actors affectionately called him “Matthew Malbec” due to his frequent presence with a wine glass.

Additionally, he disclosed that Denise Welch from Loose Women was the one who ultimately motivated him to quit drinking; this inspiration came during their collaboration on a play called The Gap at the Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester this past year.

65-year-old Denise openly discusses her struggles with alcohol and has maintained sobriety for a remarkable 12 years now.

Matthew expressed that Denise was truly inspiring, as you well know. One of the initial things she mentions is her length of sobriety. Hearing this left him astonished, thinking, “Wow, this is incredible.” He then considered it a perfect moment to share his thoughts.

In these past three months, I’ve been seeing a woman and, as you’re aware, I enjoy a good drink or two. I decided to make the most of this time with her, so each night, without fail, we would go out for drinks, and more often than not, I ended up having too much to drink at the bar afterwards.

Matthew Kelly, 74, confesses he's 's*** with money' after losing all his Stars In Their Eyes earnings and reveals he used to drink so much cast mates nicknamed him 'Muriel Malbec'
Matthew Kelly, 74, confesses he's 's*** with money' after losing all his Stars In Their Eyes earnings and reveals he used to drink so much cast mates nicknamed him 'Muriel Malbec'
Matthew Kelly, 74, confesses he's 's*** with money' after losing all his Stars In Their Eyes earnings and reveals he used to drink so much cast mates nicknamed him 'Muriel Malbec'

After the performance, I felt as though I was with a companion, and I suddenly realized, “You know what? I need to quit drinking.” I declared, “I’m going to quit,” and he responded, “Me too?” So, we both decided to do it.

Approximately ten weeks past, I gave him a call and asked, “How have you been doing?” To which he replied, “Funny you should ask, I haven’t truly taken a break, if I’m being honest.” I responded, “That’s perfectly understandable.

For me, it’s been over half a year now. Previously, at my old job, they knew me as Muriel Malbec. Given this change in time and circumstance, I felt it was past due for a fresh start!

A year ago, Denise commemorated reaching her 11th year without alcohol, and she used social media to ponder over her choice to abstain from alcohol as she honored this significant achievement.

I openly acknowledge how my tumultuous past with alcohol has significantly impacted not only my personal relationship with my husband, Lincoln Townley, but also the lives of our sons, Louis, 23, and Matty, 35, whom I’ve shared a life with before Tim Healy. This struggle has been an integral part of my journey, one I now choose to share openly as a means of growth and understanding.

The Coronation Street actress later revealed that giving up alcohol, despite being challenging, transformed not just her life but also the lives of her dear ones.

Matthew Kelly, 74, confesses he's 's*** with money' after losing all his Stars In Their Eyes earnings and reveals he used to drink so much cast mates nicknamed him 'Muriel Malbec'
Matthew Kelly, 74, confesses he's 's*** with money' after losing all his Stars In Their Eyes earnings and reveals he used to drink so much cast mates nicknamed him 'Muriel Malbec'
Matthew Kelly, 74, confesses he's 's*** with money' after losing all his Stars In Their Eyes earnings and reveals he used to drink so much cast mates nicknamed him 'Muriel Malbec'

Today marks 11 years of sobriety for me! Letting go of my destructive bond with alcohol has transformed not only my life but also my husband’s, our children’s, and the lives of those who care about me deeply.

‘It wasn’t easy. Addiction is a cruel and frightening illness. But together @lincolntownley and I realised that we were destroying many lives including our own and we did it. 

‘I now have a wonderful marriage that is the foundation of my life. Our kids are happy and I hope those of you struggling find the strength to stop. 

‘If alcohol no longer makes you happy, if your drinking makes others lives miserable it’s time to stop. There is help there if you need it.’

Kate Thornton’s White Wine Question Time is available to listen to on all podcast platforms. 

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2024-10-04 02:19

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