Michelle Heaton has credited her husband with helping her beat her life-threatening addiction issues.
The Dancing On Ice star, 43, says she's lucky to have a person who has 'stood by her' and never give up hope she would recover, as her husband Hugh Hanley recalls how he once feared he was facing life as a single father to their two children.
Hugh praises Michelle for working hard on her sobriety and says they are lucky to have a 'second chance at their marriage', but admits it was 'by no means an easy battle' to get through to the other side.
The Liberty X singer, who went to rehab in April 2021 to conquer her demons, previously confessed that at one point, she had been consuming as much as a bottle bottle of vodka, lines of cocaine and two bottles of a wine daily since 2018.
"We’re very lucky to have got a second chance at our marriage – and by that I mean Michelle’s worked hard on her programme to get herself sober and we can enjoy each other a lot more now," Hugh says in a new interview.
"We’re aware it could have easily gone the other way. I never considered walking away, but it was by no means an easy battle to come through the other side."
Hugh and Michelle met in 2008 shortly after the Dancing On Ice star's split from her first husband, Lisa Scott Lee's brother Andy.
Teetotal Irish fitness fan Hugh was by Michelle's side when doctors warned the star she had life-threatening liver failure.
He recalls to OK! magazine how scary it was to hear someone say his wife could die, and admitted he worried the mother of his children may not conquer her demons and recover.
Hugh explains how he begged Michelle to stop drinking and she promised she would, but they ended up the same conversation every few weeks until "all of a sudden two years of empty promises had passed."
Michelle adds how she "did really want to stop" but her addiction always got the best of her. It was only in April 2021 she finally acknowledged she was an alcoholic and admitted herself to the Priory.
Hugh remembers how during Michelle's stay at the rehabilitation facility he had to write his wife a letter detailing how her addictions had turned her into a liar.
Michelle recalls how the letter was Hugh was "heartbreaking to read" but made her realise the chaos she had brought on her family - adding how she keeps the letter by her bed to this day to remind herself how far she has come.
The star, who shares Faith, 10, and son AJ, eight, with Hugh, says: "I’ve got a person who has stood by me and never gave up hope. Not every story is like that. He knew I was in there somewhere – and thank God he did."
*Frank offers confidential advice about drugs and addiction (email frank@talktofrank.com , message 82111 or call 0300 123 6600) or the NHS has information about getting help.
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