After a ‘wobbly’ Fearne Cotton posts about shame in the wake of her former lover, child sex offender Ian Watkins’ ‘murder’ in prison, her old bestie Holly Willoughby offers her love and support
Presenters Holly Willoughby and Fearne Cotton were thick as thieves for many years. The best friends first met when they were teenagers and their parallel careers in the spotlight saw them working together on many occasions, most famously on Celebrity Juice.
The pair are believed to have reconnected last year after drifting apart for some time and it seems they are now more determined than ever to support each other during difficult moments..
When the pair rekindled their friendship, Holly was on a sabbatical from her TV work after she became the target of security guard Gavin Plumb’s plot to kidnap, rape and kill her. Fearne is notoriously open about her struggles with mental health and in the wake of news her ex Ian Watkins died in prison, and has recently posted about shame and feeling ‘wobbly’, with Holly sending out love to her pal.
READ MORE: Ian Watkins ‘murder’: One of accused killers refuses to attend courtREAD MORE: Ian Watkins’ sick life in jail with groupie visits, daily attacks and killing just a ‘matter of time’
On Tuesday, Fearne, 44, shared a clip on social media with her fans about the things she’s learned this week. Her Instagram caption read: “Four life lessons from this week. I’m not sleeping well. My brain is a bit wobbly at the moment but I’m grasping the lessons life is chucking my way. Which of these interests you the most or rings true?”
In an accompanying video, the mum-of-two talks about her Happy Place podcast and a chat she had with Charlie Mackesy. She recalls how the author of The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse discussed the topic of shame, which she says she “greatly appreciated”.
“The one reminder that I had from that episode was that so many of us feel shame,” she shared, “but we assume it’s just us because that is what shame does. It wants you to believe that it’s just you but it’s not…” Underneath the heartfelt post Holly, also 44, commented: “Love you cotton chops,” with a red heart emoji.
The stars first met many years ago after they both entered the world of showbiz as teens. Holly was scouted as a model aged 14 and Fearne became a kids’ TV presenter for GMTV’s The Disney Show’s at the age of 15. With so much in common they became firm friends and co-hosted their own show in 2007, Holly and Fearne Go Dating, where they matched singles up together.
Fearne was bridesmaid at Holly’s wedding to TV producer Dan Baldwin the same year and the pair landed the team captain roles on Celebrity Juice with Keith Lemon just after. The outrageous but hugely successful show saw them at the helm together for 10 years until the self-confessed, socially anxious Fearne quit in 2018.
It was then that they are said to have drifted apart as their lives took them in different career and family directions. When Holly left her role hosting ITV ’s flagship show This Morning following the stalking ordeal, she became more holistic in her outlook, which is something Fearne had been focusing on for some time.
A source at the time told The Sun: “Fearne started living holistically, concentrating on self-care while Holly was still on TV. But then Holly went down the same path and started meditating and appreciating and researching holistic therapies. When she set up her wellness brand, Wylde Moon, she and Fearne were back on the same page again.”
Fearne’s recent post comes just days after former Lost Prophets frontman Ian Watkins was found dead in prison. He and Fearne briefly dated around 2008, although she has never publicly commented on their relationship.
The sick pervert was serving a 29-year sentence for multiple sexual offences, including against children and babies. It was claimed the paedo rocker may have been killed because he refused to pay protection money to other lags. He was found severely injured in his cell at HMP Wakefield in West Yorkshire after allegedly being attacked with a knife, but staff could do nothing to save him and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
A source told The Mirror: “It looks like it happened just after unlock, they have walked into his cell and he ends up dead. He got attacked in 2023 and that was because he refused to pay (protection). He has always paid for protection but every so often people just reminded him that he needed to pay it so they gave him a good hiding. The guys that have done this are no heroes. It is not like they are some kind of shining Knight.”
Detectives were questioning two prisoners over the brutal death. Rashid Gedel, 25, who was referred to as Rico Gedel, and Samuel Dodsworth, 43, were arrested and charged with murder after the 48-year-old was discovered just after 9am on Saturday.. On Tuesday both men were due to make their first appearance before a Crown Court judge.
Dodsworth appeared via video link from HMP Wakefield, but Leeds Crown Court heard Gedel had refused to attend remotely. No bail applications were made during the hearing and both men were remanded in custody until their next appearance at the same court for a plea and trial preparation hearing on November 12.
