Fearne Cotton reveals how she gave up trying to be as famous as Ant and Dec

Once one of the hottest names on TV and radio, Fearne Cotton has told of how she had to walk away from stardom to save her mental health.

Speaking to You magazine today, she opens up about the decade of bulimia, debilitating depression and crippling anxiety she suffered by trying to climb the greasy pole of fame.

She says: ‘The TV industry thrives on that fear that there’s someone better waiting for your job in the wings.’

(L to R) Ronnie Wood, Fearne Cotton and Jesse Wood attend a private view of ‘Ronnie Wood: Faces

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But stepping away to set up her wellness brand Happy Place transformed her life, she says. ‘It certainly took me away from a meaningless job that was just about how do I climb the ladder to be like Ant and Dec?

‘I thought, “F*** that, I’m going to create my own thing where I am my own boss and I will listen to the audience and move with them.”

‘That was Happy Place. I don’t have to wait for the phone to ring to tell me whether I am worthy or not any more… As soon as I did that, the anxiety I had for years went away.’

Speaking to You magazine today, Fearne opens up about the decade of bulimia, debilitating depression and crippling anxiety she suffered by trying to climb the greasy pole of fame

Fearne all but shut down her showbusiness career by 2015. Today her only regular TV spot is partnering Gok Wan on Celebrity Gogglebox.

In the seven years since, she has written eight wellness books, amassed 11.5 million social media followers and grown her brand to encompass a podcast, festivals and a forthcoming app. ‘I hope Happy Place can help people cope a little better in hard times,’ the 40-year-old says.