Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Fearne Cotton reveals she quit radio to protect mental health

‘I had to walk away because it was literally ruining my mind’, said the former Radio 1 presenter

Isobel Lewis
Wednesday 15 April 2020 07:33 EDT
Comments
Fearne Cotton leaves BBC Radio One

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Fearne Cotton stepped back from working on BBC Radio 1 because the pressure was “ruining” her mental health.

The presenter began her career presenting on children’s TV when she was just a teenager in 1996, going on to present the Radio 1 Chart Show in 2007 and hosting her own daily show on the station in 2009.

However, Cotton parted ways from the station in 2015 after becoming pregnant with her second child, now telling Grazia that the decision to quit was to protect her mental health.

“I’m very lucky to have worked in the industry I have since I was 15, but a lot of the world I was doing, I didn’t feel connected to,” she said.

“I didn’t feel like I fitted in; I always felt like someone was about to slag me off. It gets really tiring and hurtful and I had to walk away because it was literally ruining my mind.”

“I left Radio 1 just before I had my second kid, and knew that I needed a new chapter.”

Isolating with her husband Jesse Wood and kids Rex, seven, and Honey, four, Cotton last week opened up about struggling mentally during coronavirus lockdown after suffering her first panic attack in months.

For mental health support, you can contact charity Mind by calling 0300 123 3393 or texting 86463.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in