Gail Porter: ‘Having Honey saved my life’
Tuesday 13 March 2012
When we meet up with Gail Porter – mum to Honey, nine – to talk about Mother’s Day, she’s in a reflective mood. Her mum, Sandra, died of lung cancer in 2009, aged just 60, and it’s left a huge void in her life.
“My mum was my best friend, so Mother’s Day is hard, but every day is hard without her. I spoke to her every day,” says Gail.
'If I was having a tough time, Mum would always remind me that she loved me. She never told me to snap out of it.”
Gail’s battle with depression has been well documented. She suffered post-natal depression following the birth of Honey in 2002, and attempted suicide by overdosing on pills in 2005. As a result, she was diagnosed as bipolar and, last April, she was sectioned after a breakdown and self-harming.
The star is determined to protect Honey – from her marriage to Toploader guitarist Dan Hipgrave – from her illness.
“I’ve been an up-and-down mum having depression, but Dan has been brilliant,” she says. “If I’m feeling even slightly delicate, I’ll phone him, as I don’t want Honey to ever see me sad or crying, and he’ll look after her. It doesn’t happen that often any more – it used to. Honey and I talk openly about my depression too,” says Gail, who adds that she and
Dan have an informal custody arrangement over Honey.
Thankfully, Gail says Honey has her and Dan’s families around to support her, too.
“Dan’s family are amazing, so she’s got a lovely support network from them,” she says.
Last time Closer caught up with Gail, in October, she revealed how taking up running was helping her to cope with her depression. She’s since qualified as a Zumba instructor and is now training for a triathlon.
“I’m quite body confident at the moment, but I’m sure my body will bulk up from training for the triathlon,” says Gail, who’s a size 8.
Feeling body confident is important to 5ft 2 Gail as she suffered from anorexia for nine years, from the age of 22. She finally overcame it when she fell pregnant with Honey.
“Having Honey saved my life. I talk to her about food and she knows how silly it is that I didn’t eat, so she doesn’t worry about her body. We love cooking together. Her favourite foods are sushi, fish and hot and sour soup from our local Chinese.”
Find out what Gail wants in a man and what her day-to-day diet is in thei weeks Closer - out now!
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