Michelle Heaton: I’d buy vodka rather than do the school run

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Daniel Keane6 January 2022

Michelle Heaton has said she would dash straight to the off licence to buy vodka in the morning rather than do the school run during her battle with alcoholism.

The former Liberty X singer, 42, is now sober following years of excessive drinking after checking in to rehab last year.

In an emotional joint interview with her husband Hugh Hanley, she admitted that her craving for alcohol had sometimes consumed her so much that she neglected the needs of her children Aaron, 7, and Faith, nine.

The popstar told The Sun: “I would always promise myself this was the last time I was going to drink or use cocaine.

“But I’d wake up with the fear of it not being there and have to buy more vodka.

“I’d manipulate friends into picking up the kids from school. I was selfish. I was exhausted.

“I didn’t want to lie, but I had to because I needed alcohol. It was relentless.”

Doctors told Michelle she would die if she did not stop drinking, with her husband revealing he believed she wouldn’t survive as her body was “shutting down”.

He said: “At the start of last year, I didn’t know if Michelle could survive. Her body was shutting down and she was drinking more than ever.

“We were heading to a final outcome because everyone was at breaking point.

“She was choosing darkness and I was trying to deal with the chaos of her spiralling and worrying about where it was going to end for her, me and the kids.”

Michelle with her husband Hugh Hanley
PA

Michelle began drinking heavily in 2019, though her alcoholism worsened in 2020. She said that at her worst she would down two bottles of wine and a bottle of vodka every day.

By the time she checked into rehab in April 2021, her liver was on the verge of cirrhosis.

Hugh continued: “It became the norm that Michelle was always going to be chaotic and life was going to be stressful and hard work every day.

“I spent three years trying to get out the door to work without getting absolutely screamed at because I’d woken Michelle up.”

Michelle spent a month in rehab centre The Priory – but is now completely sober eight months later.

She later joined Alcohol Anonymous and began the 12 Steps programme to aid her recovery.

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