Denise Welch broke down in tears on Loose Women as she revealed her biggest parenting regret with her eldest son Matty Healey during Tuesday’s instalment of the ITV show.
The latest episode saw Denise, Christine Lampard, 46, Coleen Nolan, 60, and Nadia Sawalha, 60, return to the studio to discuss the latest newsworthy topics and headlines.
During the show, they mentioned a current trend which has seen people work to appreciate life in the moment as they played a clip from the Lise And Sarah Podcast.
Holding back the tears, they read out: ‘I’m 80 years old and somehow I woke up in my 38 year old body. Just for one day.
‘”Mummy, wake up” they shout. I blink, I sit up slowly, my babies, they are small again. I gasp, I cry, they climb into bed giggling, wiggling… I used to rush through mornings. But not today.’
The clip made the panel very emotional, and in particular, Denise.
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Denise Welch broke down in tears on Loose Women as she revealed her biggest parenting regret with her eldest son Matty Healey during Tuesday’s instalment of the ITV show
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During the show, they mentioned a current trend which has seen people to appreciate life in the now as they played a clip from the Lise and Sarah Podcast – which got Denise to open up about her feelings
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The actress pictured with her 1975 singer son Matty, 34, who she shares with her ex husband Tim Healy
Denise, who shares her two sons Matty, 34, and Louis, 24, with ex husband Tim Healy, said: ‘When you do reflect you have to forgive yourself, we were all very busy and we didn’t have a handbook. We did the best we could.
‘I always get emotional. Because I wish I could re-do bits of, particularly, Matty’s childhood, was coping with addictions and self-medication.’
The star stopped her sentence as she started to get upset and co-star Nadia told her: ‘You are the most present, proud, adoring mum and to get well from addiction is incredibly rare.
‘To be able to do it day after day after day. So much of what you do, you and Lincoln, it’s so powerful.
‘Another reason you have to forgive yourself, because that will be great for your kids.’
‘We’re so close, I just wish I could do it again,’ Denise said.
Nadia told her: ‘Look how you are now! Look how are you now, you’re so present.
‘You telling great stories about your kids, you shine with pride.’
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Denise said: ‘I always get emotional. Because I wish I could re-do bits of, particularly, Matty’s childhood, was coping with addictions and self medication’
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Denise pictured with her two sons Louis (left) and Matty (right) back in 2015
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Denise pictured with her son’s father Tim – the pair were married for 24 years but split in 2012
Denise shares her two sons with her ex Tim.
The pair tied the knot in 1988 but divorced in 2012.
Denise is now married to Lincoln Townley.
Back in April Denise celebrate 13 years of sobriety and recalled shocking details from her last ever alcohol binge.
She wrote on Instagram: ’13 years ago today I had my last alcoholic drink. I had woken up, as often happened, with no memory of the night before’.
‘I was in the middle of a huge theatre tour and was faced with the thought of a long car journey to Richmond and 2 shows!! Then I looked around and realised that my husband, then boyfriend, was watching me and he threw a newspaper on the bed’.
‘It was me. Papped. Leaning over the bonnet of a car shouting at someone and pointing. No recollection. The bathroom door of his flat had been pulled of its hinges and a lamp lay on the floor’.
Denise continued: ‘Lincoln had stopped drinking 2 months before. I had told him I didn’t have as big of a problem. I did. A huge one. He told me he loved me but he couldn’t live like this’.
‘The thought of losing him terrified me. I was depressed, anxious, scared, embarrassed, appalled at my behaviour and full of shame. I gave up drinking that night. It is the best decision I have ever made’.
‘Not just because I now have an amazing marriage to the love of my life, but because our three children [the artist also has a son from a previous relationship] can live their lives knowing that we’re safe and happy.
‘Their lives aren’t led never knowing what or where we’ll end up’.
Denise’s post went on: ‘My husband is now a successful international artist and I’m still working on television and on stage. The ripple effect on our families is what I’m most proud of. The look of love and respect from those who love us is something I cherish every day’.
‘If alcohol is making you and the people you love unhappy it’s time to stop.
‘There is help and support out there. I still suffer from episodes of clinical depression but they are not compounded by alcohol and drugs so my recovery is quicker’.
Before adding: ‘I self medicated my illness for many years and became an alcoholic. I’m grateful for every day I wake up sober and I regained the respect I had lost.
‘My children are proud of me and that’s the greatest gift of all. Thank you to @lincolntownley for being by my side every step of the way’..