Fearne Cotton discusses debilitating anxiety and personal challenges

TV presenter and podcaster Fearne Cotton has shared her experience with debilitating anxiety and the personal challenges she faced two years ago. Cotton described feeling "crippled with anxiety," which led her to become "sort of a hermit" and caused her to struggle with daily activities such as driving and television work.

During this period, Cotton underwent surgery in December 2024 to remove two benign tumors from her jaw. Shortly after the surgery, it was announced that she and her husband, Jesse Wood, had separated after 10 years of marriage. Cotton noted that her therapist suggested her mental health struggles were linked to difficulty channeling anger in a healthy way, observing that "stress will manifest physically."

Cotton expressed optimism regarding her current state, stating that she is now "having loads of fun" and encouraging others struggling with deep anxiety to face their challenges, as she believes recovery is possible.