Take That bandmates help Mark Owen with drink problem
Disgraced Mark Owen has admitted that he turned to his old Take That pals for help with his alcohol dependancy.
Mark yesterday confessed to at least ten extra-marital affairs and claims that many of his issues in that area stem from a serious drink problem. His wife Emma has insisted that he enter rehab for the condition and Mark has asked seasoned rehaber Robbie for advice.
The Shine singer told The Sun:
I told the lads a few weeks ago that I am trying to deal with a drink problem. I spoke to Rob about it, too.
I've always tried not to involve anyone else, including the boys. Maybe the lads might have suspected sometimes. But they knew I was making the right moves to go forward and they respected that.
Me and Howard were up late in the studio and we were talking about me being drunk.
He was saying I do this thing with my head, where it sways around and he can't understand what I am saying. So they were all aware I got myself in a state. I admitted I had a drink problem I never knew I had.
I felt better after that. You want friends around you and friends close to you for help.
I'm glad I've told them, so they look after me a bit now. I still have the odd drink but it might have to turn to cold turkey eventually.
On how his drinking became a problem, Mark admitted that when he moved to the lake District to avoid the limelight, he ended up lonely and drinking heavily to compensate.
He said:
I have had issues for a long time. I've drunk for the last ten years and it got to a bad point.
"When I was up in the Lakes, living there for all those years on my own, I used to just drink every night.
"I never really saw the problem. I carried on drinking through my relationship with Emma and it got to the point where she asked me to stop.
"I've never liked drinking during the day but once the kids went to bed, I'd get the bottle open and off I went. I have been a prat. I wasn't thinking - I don't think logically when I'm drunk. I'm not the person I want to be when I'm drunk. I can be a nightmare to live with.
I want to make it absolutely clear I am not using the drink as an excuse. I've been living with the guilt. Maybe the drink was my way of dealing with the guilt, I don't know. My drinking is another problem I have and it hasn't helped. But I'm not blaming everything on it.
- Lisa McGarry's blog
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