Linda Robson’s many heartaches: How Loose Women star, 65, struggles with OCD, alcoholism and infidelity as she announces split from her husband of 33 years

Linda Robson announced this week that she has split from husband Mark Bedford after 33 years of marriage.

The Loose Women panellist, 65, confirmed the news after months of rumors of marital problems, telling Woman magazine: “He’s a really good dad and we’ve had a good few years but enough is enough.”

“I have my family and my children around me.” And in November I’m going on a cruise with Lesley Joseph. I’m busy. I feel good. I go on trips all the time.

‘I’m not interested [in dating] Honest. I can’t handle all of this.’

The breakup is the latest in a series of personal worries that have plagued Linda in recent years. The mother-of-three spoke openly about her struggles on her ITV show.

Linda Robson’s many heartaches: How the 65-year-old ‘Loose Women’ star dealt with OCD, alcoholism and infidelity in her life over the years

End of an era: Linda Robson announced this week that she has split from husband Mark Bedford after 33 years of marriage (pictured together in November 2022)

In 2018, Linda became addicted to alcohol after being prescribed a medication to help with her depression – which led to three stints in rehab.

Reflecting on the experience during a Loose Women episode, Linda explained: “I went through a really hard time, I was depressed, turned to alcohol and had purging compulsive disorder.”

“I used to always drink a glass of wine or spritzer in the evening, coming in at 10 in the evening, but never during the day.” And then I was prescribed medication that made me a little crazy.

“I was prescribed a certain medication that was supposed to help with the depression but it didn’t, it just made it worse, so I had to go to three different facilities and it was the worst time of my life, I completely ruined my family’s life .” ‘.

Recalling a particular low point, Linda pointed to a trip she took with other Loose Women friends – from which she had to return home early.

She explained: “We were in Ibiza and I collapsed in front of all the girls. Stacey had to take me home and she took me to the priory.”

“I had really bad depression and was self-harming. I cleaned everywhere I went and washed my sheets every night when I got home.”

She took a year off from Loose Women and returned to the show in January 2020 to great success.

Linda told her co-stars: “I had a nervous breakdown.” I stopped the wine and took a tablet every night to help me sleep better. When I stopped the wine, I increased the tablet and then worried about whether I should take the tablet.

“So I went to see someone about it and they gave me a tablet – I won’t say the name but I had a really bad reaction to it, a real breakdown. “I got really bad anxiety, really bad depression and my OCD kicked into overdrive.’

The heartbreaking addiction and outcome left her family seeking desperate measures to “find her someone to go to.”

Calmed down: In 2018, Linda became addicted to alcohol, had three stints in rehab and took a year off from Loose Women, making an emotional return in January 2020 (pictured with Stacey Solomon and Nadia Sawalha).

She continued: “The family found a place for me to go and help me. I was in that place for six weeks, taking so many pills and leaving with even more. My doctor said you had the worst reaction to this drug I’ve ever seen…

On her frightening “come down,” she said, “Even though you had to come down slowly, it took a long time for me to feel normal again.”

When asked if the police were called to intervene amid her problems, Linda continued: “Yes, they were called because I was drinking…”

“They locked me up because I couldn’t get out, I screamed for them to get me out, so the police were called because they thought I was kidnapped… This was my family trying to protect me.”

Aside from her substance issues, Linda revealed that she took “four baths” every day as she suffered from her OCD. She added: “At one point I was taking four baths a day and washing my sheets every day…

“People joke when they hear someone say about OCD, they think it’s a little joke or whatever, but it’s actually not a joke, it took over my life. ‘I couldn’t clean everything enough.’

Commenting on her recovery, Linda noted that there was no quick fix, but she felt like she was “finally” on the other side.

Linda previously explained that her fear dates back to 2008 when her son Louis, now 31, was out with his friend Ben Kinsella on the night Ben was stabbed and died at the scene.

Linda is also mother to two daughters Lauren, 40, and Roberta, 27 – and has struggled with both anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Problems: Before Linda married Mark, she was in a relationship with Tony Tyler for 11 years and they had daughter Lauren in 1983, but he cheated on her several times

The Birds Of A Feather star also opened up about her trust issues after her partner of 11 years cheated on her.

Before marrying Mark, Linda dated Tony Tyler for 11 years and they had daughter Lauren in 1983.

However, their relationship was plagued with problems, and she told the Loose Women audience in 2017: “I caught my ex cheating on me several times – even when I was pregnant with Lauren.”

“One time I was away and Lauren was away with me. When I returned, everything seemed fine in the apartment. But when I went to bed that night, I moved the pillow and there was a handkerchief with lipstick and long blonde hair on it.”

Before marrying Mark, Linda dated Tony Tyler for 11 years and they had daughter Lauren in 1983.

However, their relationship was plagued with problems, and she told the Loose Women audience in 2017: “I caught my ex cheating on me several times – even when I was pregnant with Lauren.”

“One time I was away and Lauren was away with me. When I returned, everything seemed fine in the apartment. But when I went to bed that night, I moved the pillow and there was a handkerchief with lipstick and long blonde hair on it.”

Linda said: “I remember saying to my ex: ‘What is that?’ and he said: ‘One of my friends stayed and her partner, it must be hers.’ But you know it when you see it white?’

She explained how she did her own detective work as she became determined to find out what was going on.

Linda said: “When I found out I was relieved because you know you won’t go crazy when it’s over.”

The star continued: “I had found letters and followed him. “I also caught him with someone when I was pregnant with Lauren. I was waiting outside the house and he went into this girl’s house.’

In 1990, she married Mark and in 2017, Linda revealed that she and Mark were going through a difficult period where they were on the verge of divorce.

She explained: “I love him. “We had a few tough years where we could have easily called it quits, but we didn’t.”

She revealed that their problems began when children Lauren and Louis experienced traumatic events that tested Linda and Mark’s marriage.

Things were put to the test when Lauren was diagnosed with bulimia and Louis was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder after witnessing his friend’s murder.

“People always said [Lauren] “Looked like Kate Moss,” she said, beginning by talking about her daughter’s ordeal. “We went to the agency and they took loads of photos, but someone said to her: ‘You need to lose some weight.’

“I replied, “No, she doesn’t,” and we walked out. It was ridiculous.’

After this incident, Linda noticed that Lauren was losing weight, becoming dramatically thin, but still eating normally in front of her eyes.

She concluded it was due to bulimia and vomiting the food she ate and took her to seek help.

Lauren beat the disease after two years, when she was 19; But more heartache struck in 2008 when Ben Kinsella was stabbed to death.

Ben was a friend of Linda’s son Louis and was killed aged 16 when he was stabbed eleven times while celebrating the end of her GCSEs.

Louis saw Ben die on the streets, which led to post-traumatic stress disorder and frequent severe panic attacks.

“Louis is doing really well now. “He’s really interested in his music and his writing,” Linda said of her oldest son, who has come out the other side 10 years later.

Wedding Anniversary: ​​Linda married Mark Dunford in 1990, but it was reported that their marriage went through a difficult period before Christmas, which they tried to overcome

Tragic Loss: Linda’s marriage was also tested when she lost her father to lung cancer in 1997. He was still a young man [57] and died a week after diagnosis (pictured in infancy)

Family: Linda and Mark share children Louis, 31, and Roberta, 27 (pictured: Linda with her daughters in 2011)

Linda’s marriage was also tested when she lost her father to lung cancer in 1997. He was just 57 years old and died a week after the diagnosis.

Her mother died in 2012, also of cancer, this time of the stomach, at the age of 75. Linda admits it was traumatic but she died peacefully and painlessly.

If you need confidential help with alcohol abuse, call Alcoholics Anonymous free on 0800 9177 650 or email [email protected]

If you need confidential help with depression or mental health, call Samaritans free on 116 123 or email [email protected]