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Michelle Heaton apologises to Lorraine for secretly drinking before interviews

Watch: Michelle Heaton makes emotional apology to Lorraine Kelly

Michelle Heaton made an emotional apology to Lorraine Kelly as she confessed to secretly drinking before appearing on the show in the past.

The former Liberty X singer – who last month celebrated 100 days of sobriety after revealing that she drank every day for three years – appeared on the presenter's ITV morning show Lorraine to discuss her recent rehab experience.

Heaton, 42, told Kelly: "I wanted to apologise to you before we begin.

"Because there were times where I drank before I sat on this sofa. And you trusted me and I did campaigns for you and I love you so much because you’ve always been there to support me and I just wanted to say sorry."

<p>Former Liberty X star Michelle Heaton spoke to Lorraine Kelly about her addiction battle and the impact on her family.</p>
<p>Credit: Lorraine / ITV / ITV Hub</p>
Michelle Heaton apologised to Lorraine Kelly for secretly drinking before interviews. (Lorraine/ITV/ITV Hub)

Kelly replied: "Oh Michelle, don’t be daft, you don’t have to apologise to me or to anybody else.

Read more: Michelle Heaton opens up on scary near-death experience in days before rehab

“The easy path to have taken for you was to keep drinking, the hard thing was to say ‘No, I’m not going to do this any more. I’ve got an amazing husband, family and friends.’

“And that takes real guts. You’re one of the strongest women that I know."

Lorraine Kelly hosts Lorraine on ITV (ITV)
Lorraine Kelly told Michelle Heaton there was no need to apologise. (ITV)

Heaton – who found fame in 2001 in Liberty X, the runners-up of ITV singing talent show Popstars – has made regular appearances on Lorraine as part of various cancer-awareness campaigns.

The singer is mother to nine-year-old daughter Faith and seven-year-old son AJ, who she shares with her Irish businessman husband of 11 years Hugh Hanley.

Left to right: Tony Lundon, Michelle Heaton, Jessica Taylor, Kelli Young, and Kevin Simm of Liberty X arrive.   (Photo by Chris Young - PA Images/PA Images via Getty Images)
L-R: Tony Lundon, Michelle Heaton, Jessica Taylor, Kelli Young and Kevin Simm of Liberty X. (Chris Young – PA Images/PA Images via Getty Images)

Heaton revealed she has discussed her alcohol addiction openly with her children, saying: "I think that's really important, that if my kids ask me a direct question I have to give them an answer, because the nature of being in this industry is they're able to find out anything they want.

"I could not be prouder of my Faith, she's just such a wonderful young woman. She's took a lot on board, she had to grow up really quickly because of Mummy. I put her through so much pain, and all the family.

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 12: Michelle Heaton, daughter Faith and Hugh Hanley attend the Gala screening of Paw Patrol Mighty Pups at Cineworld Leicester Square on May 12, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Paramount)
Michelle Heaton, daughter Faith, son AJ and husband Hugh Hanley in 2019. (Getty Images for Paramount)

"But I couldn't be prouder and I'm pretty sure I got it just in time before it was too late. Because these things can damage families – it's not just the addict, it's the family around them.

"Just don't leave it too late, ask for help, do I what I did – admit you are powerless. That's the hardest step, but the first for survival."

Hanley said in an interview filmed for the show: "The last three or four years have been extremely tough knowing that Michelle was in there but the addictions were ripping her apart.

"Sometimes the way she would be towards me and the kids wasn’t nice but I knew that wasn’t Michelle and it wasn’t who she really is and I kind of held on to that.

<p>Former Liberty X star Michelle Heaton spoke to Lorraine Kelly about her addiction battle and the impact on her family.</p>
<p>Credit: Lorraine / ITV / ITV Hub</p>
Former Liberty X star Michelle Heaton was tearful as she spoke about her addiction and its effect on her family. (Lorraine/ITV/ITV Hub)

"Whenever I brought it up and addressed it, it was just an argument or, 'You don’t understand I’m not an alcoholic.'"

The star – who appeared on Celebrity Big Brother in 2009 – left rehab in May.

As well as suffering dramatic weight-loss as a result of her alcohol abuse, she must take medication to account for the lack of function in her pancreas and has been left with terrible bowel issues.

Read more: Michelle Heaton and husband reveal dark times over menopause

Heaton underwent a double mastectomy and hysterectomy after she was diagnosed in 2012 with the BRCA2 gene, giving her an 80% chance of developing breast cancer.

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