McFly star and former I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! winner, Dougie Poynter has opened up about two stints in rehab for “separate addictions”. The 35-year-old, who was crowned King of the Jungle in 2011, spoke to Busted star Matt Willis - who himself struggles with addiction - on his podcast On The Mend.
During their chat, Dougie confessed how both of his addictions felt “life-changing” at the time. “They were like the worst times in my life and the best, for some reason,” he explained.
“I still reference my last stint in rehab now whenever I'm not feeling quite right or something.” For more showbiz and television stories get our newsletter here.
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Dougie then told Matt how admitting he had a problem to his loved ones was tough and added: “It’s horrible, that was like one of the worst parts about it. I think that also plays into why I’m fearful of talking about it, is more what others or friends and family will think, like how it will hurt them knowing.”
Speaking about his own struggles Matt replied: “Because other people feel like they failed you in a way?” Dougie then said: “Yeah I guess, yeah – yeah. Or that like they didn’t know, what did they do wrong.
“I hated the attention, I don’t really like attention like anyway, or the focus being on me, and then when you are the problem child of that scenario and everybody’s like supportive, like amazingly supportive but that – I wanted everyone to calm down a bit like yeah it’s okay, it’s okay.”
Dougie had struggled with alcohol and substance abuse early on in his career. In 2011 he attempted to take his own life but got counselling and entered a rehab programme. He has previously revealed how a Valium addiction left him unable to remember two years of his life. In 2020 he admitted he was hooked on the anti-anxiety drug from 2016-2018, which ultimately prompted his decision to go into rehab.
Listen to Dougie on Matt Willis' podcast On the Mend, which is available from all good podcast providers. A synopsis for the podcast reads: "Matt Willis talks to inspiring people from all walks of life, who have hit rock bottom, and finds out how they made it through to the other side. Exploring his own drug and alcohol addiction, he digs deep into what recovery means, offering tips and tools and expert advice. With honest, frank, relatable and free flowing conversation this podcast is personable as it is informative."
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