Latest news with #IwanThomas
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Strictly star Iwan Thomas marks a year of sobriety by sharing harrowing photo of himself
Strictly Come Dancing star and former athlete Iwan Thomas has revealed he is now 12 months sober as he celebrated the achievement by sharing a photo of himself passed out drunk Former Strictly Come Dancing star Iwan Thomas has celebrated 12 months of sobriety and marked the milestone by sharing a harrowing photo at the height of his struggle. The Olympian, 51, revealed he is now a "better father and person" since getting sober. He admitted he would turn to alcohol to feel "accepted" in social settings and detailed how he would "never drink for pleasure". Iwan, who competed on the BBC dance show in 2015, decided to share a photo of himself after a night of binge drinking. In the distressing snap, the father-of-three could be seen laying next to a toilet as he passed out on the bathroom floor. Iwan candidly shared: "So I am a year sober and so proud, let me explain because it's the most awkward thing when people say 'Don't you want you want a drink why do you have an issue?' "So I didn't think I did but I never drank for pleasure if I'm honest, I drank for acceptance. That might seem a bit weird to some people because I seem confident but I'd have to have four or five drinks in any social situation just to feel relaxed." He continued: "But that wasn't great because I didn't have a switch and those four or five drinks led to shots, a crazy night and I'd have a two day hangover. "The following week then I'd have anxiety, depression, self loathing. So I thought 'Stop does drinking make me a better dad?' No. 'Does not drinking make me a better dad?' You bet is does." Iwan confessed his journey hasn't been straight forward as he missed drinking and the "short term buzz" it offered. However, he insisted he is much happier now without the negative effects on his life. The TV star captioned his candid post: "Well today is a big milestone for me. Being sober isn't for everyone and it might not be for me forever. "But at the moment it's how I'm choosing to live and if I'm honest I think it makes me a better person. I'm in no way trying to tell people how to live their lives, all I'm saying is I'm proud of myself." Iwan was supported by his celebrity pals who congratulated him on the achievement. Loose Women's Denise Welch said: "Amazing!!" Harry Potter actor Oliver Phelps added: "Well done dude!" Barbara Windsor's widow Scott Mitchell commented: "Just brilliant Iwan!!! Feel proud my friend!" The Chase's Mark Labbett also wrote: "Well done bud." Iwan previously revealed Prince Harry played a vital role in his life during a challenging time. The athlete met the Duke of Sussex in 2016 at a Heads Together event, the mental health initiative set up alongside Prince William and Princess Kate. He labelled the pivotal moment the "weirdest thing" as he stood alongside Harry flipping burgers. He said on Lorraine: "I was at a BBQ with Prince Harry and we were flipping burgers before I knew it I dropped a burger on the floor. "We laughed and joked, I said: 'I'm going to say you did that'. He opened up about his issues and his struggles, I just thought if I can't be honest to a member of the Royal Family, who can I not be honest to? "I just said: 'Listen, I've really really struggled' and for him, it really kind of opened the door for me to realise it's okay not to be okay and before because I came from a world where it was all about being physically and mentally big and strong, I felt I couldn't ask for help because I saw it was a weakness." If you are struggling with alcohol abuse or addiction, advice and support can be found at
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Strictly star Iwan Thomas marks celebrates 12 months of sobriety with distressing photo of himself passed out at the height of alcohol battle after years of drinking to feel 'accepted'
Former Strictly star Iwan Thomas celebrated one year of sobriety by sharing a photo of himself passed out at the height of his alcohol battle. The Welsh Olympian, 51, who competed on the BBC dance show back in 2015, also posted a candid video to his Instagram as he opened up about getting sober and said he was now a 'better father' and 'better person'. In the distressing snap the father-of-four can be seen laying next to a toilet after a night of binge drinking, explaining how he would turn to alcohol to feel 'accepted' and confident in social situations. Iwan said: So I am a year sober and so proud, let me explain because it's the most awkward thing when people say "Don't you want you want a drink why do you have an issue?"' 'So I didn't think I did but I never drank for pleasure if I'm honest, I drank for acceptance'. That might seem a bit weird to some people because I seem confident but I'd have to have four or five drinks in any social situation just to feel relaxed,' He continued: 'But that wasn't great because I didn't have a switch and those four or five drinks led to shots, a crazy night and I'd have a two day hangover'. 'The following week then I'd have anxiety, depression, self loathing. So I thought "Stop" does drinking make me a better dad no? does not drinking make me a better dad? Yes'. Iwan went on to admit that he missed drinking and the 'short term buzz' booze offered, but was much happier now without the negative effects alcohol. He captioned the post: 'Well today is a big milestone for me. Being sober isn't for everyone and it might not be for me forever. But at the moment it's how I'm choosing to live and if I'm honest I think it makes me a better person. I'm in no way trying to tell people how to live their lives, all I'm saying is I'm proud of myself'. Fans and famous friends rushed to congratulate the athlete on the milestone with Denise Welch writing: 'Amazing!!'. While Harry Potter actor Oliver Phelps said: 'Well done dude!' and Barbara Windsor's widow Scott Mitchell added: 'Just brilliant Iwan!!! Feel proud my friend!' In March Iwan's son Teddy has been rushed to hospital after breaking his arm after an accident. Posting snaps of Teddy, six, bandaged up with his cast on in the hospital bed, Iwan gushed over how proud he was of his son's bravery. He penned: 'We are so immensely proud of Teddy. He has been through so much in his life already and now a broken arm that required surgery but yet he doesn't moan at all, just gets on with it and shows nothing but kindness and love to others. 'We can all learn so much from kids, their resilience and courage humbles me daily. 'Thank you Teddy for teaching me so much and making me want to be a better person….Thanks for all the kind messages of support'. Teddy had a challenging start in life after he was born premature back in December 2018 and was taken straight to the intensive care unit at the Princess Anne hospital in Southampton after experiencing problems with his breathing. He told fans at the time: 'Yesterday was the worst day of my life looking at my everything with tubes everywhere in an incubator. He is now beginning to breathe better for himself without full aid of machines, I now know what true unconditional love is.' Iwan later revealed his son had Group B Strep and this was the cause of his breathing difficulties. Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a bacteria that is carried by up to 40 per cent of adults, usually in the gut, and 25 per cent of women in their vaginas, without typically causing symptoms. Infants can suffer early-onset GBS infections, which are much more common and occur when the infant is up to six days old, if they come into contact with the bacteria in the womb or during birth. This causes them to develop rapid breathing problems and blood poisoning. Speaking on This Morning the athlete said that he went into shock following the news that his son was in intensive care following breathing difficulties. He explained: 'I went home to have a shower, and got a phone call and they said please come back he's in intensive care. I thought, is this a joke?' The father said during the pregnancy no one had said anything about Strep B. He continued: 'We weren't are of it at all, if we'd known we would have had the private test for it.' Once he got back to the hospital Iwan revealed it was a tough time for him and his partner: 'It was frightening, before you know it, there were tubes everywhere.' After a day he said that Teddy was moved from nursery 4 and into nursery 1 intensive care units and doctors thought he was out of the worst of it. But then his blood score was measured, which showed the level of virus in his blood. Iwan continued: 'It had gone from 14 to 120 - and they had to do a lumbar puncture to do a see if he had an infection in his spinal fluid or in his brain, 'I went home that night and cried and then made the mistake of googling Strep B and read one in 10 babies die after treatment.'
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Strictly star's horrifying photo of ‘lowest moment' as he reveals he's been sober for a year
STRICTLY star and Olympian Iwan Thomas has bravely opened up about his secret struggle with alcohol and shared a picture of his lowest moment. The 51-year-old retired athlete took to Instagram today to mark one year of sobriety after admitting he needed four or five drinks to become relaxed in any social situation. Advertisement 3 Iwan Thomas has revealed why he's given up drinking Credit: Instagram 3 He said he's a better dad without alcohol in his life Credit: Instagram Those drinks then escalated into downing shots and wild nights that led to periods of hangxiety and depression . "But at the moment it's how I'm choosing to live and if I'm honest I think it makes me a better person. I'm in no way trying to tell people how to live their lives, all I'm saying is I'm proud of myself…" In a video filmed at his home, Iwan said that while he didn't view himself as having an alcohol problem, he drank for acceptance and not pleasure. Advertisement READ MORE ON STRICTLY He admitted he missed drinking, but that he preferred the man he is without it and that it also made him a better dad. The final slide of his post showed him passed out on the floor beside a toilet. Alcoholism campaigner Calum Best said: "Really good video this." One follower wrote: "This is everything…..you don't have to have a 'problem' with drink to want to remain sober, it's about being & feeling a better person." Advertisement Most read in News TV A second said: "Yes my man! incredible and i hope you continue with it! nothing beats feeling great! legend! you've got it." A third posted: "Great stuff Iwan! So honest of you and should be great advice for many." Strictly star secretly welcomes third child as he reveals adorable name and shares sweet first picture Championship gold in the 1997 4x400m relay, a silver in the same event at the Olympics in 1996 and individual gold in the 1998 European and Commonwealth Games. He's starred in reality shows like Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Hunted since retiring with injury in 2006. Advertisement The Welshman became a father for the third time last year when his youngest son Bowie was born. He also has sons Dougie, six, and Teddy, three, with his longtime partner. 3 Iwan is a former World Champion and Olympic silver medallist Credit: Alamy
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Strictly star's horrifying photo of ‘lowest moment' as he reveals he's been sober for a year
He became a dad for the third time last January at 51 CLEAN CUT Strictly star's horrifying photo of 'lowest moment' as he reveals he's been sober for a year STRICTLY star and Olympian Iwan Thomas has bravely opened up about his secret struggle with alcohol and shared a picture of his lowest moment. The 51-year-old retired athlete took to Instagram today to mark one year of sobriety after admitting he needed four or five drinks to become relaxed in any social situation. Advertisement 3 Iwan Thomas has revealed why he's given up drinking Credit: Instagram 3 He said he's a better dad without alcohol in his life Credit: Instagram Those drinks then escalated into downing shots and wild nights that led to periods of hangxiety and depression. Iwan wrote on Instagram: "Well today is a big milestone for me. Being sober isn't for everyone and it might not be for me forever. "But at the moment it's how I'm choosing to live and if I'm honest I think it makes me a better person. I'm in no way trying to tell people how to live their lives, all I'm saying is I'm proud of myself…" In a video filmed at his home, Iwan said that while he didn't view himself as having an alcohol problem, he drank for acceptance and not pleasure. Advertisement He admitted he missed drinking, but that he preferred the man he is without it and that it also made him a better dad. The final slide of his post showed him passed out on the floor beside a toilet. Alcoholism campaigner Calum Best said: "Really good video this." One follower wrote: "This is everything…..you don't have to have a 'problem' with drink to want to remain sober, it's about being & feeling a better person." Advertisement A second said: "Yes my man! incredible and i hope you continue with it! nothing beats feeling great! legend! you've got it." A third posted: "Great stuff Iwan! So honest of you and should be great advice for many." Strictly star secretly welcomes third child as he reveals adorable name and shares sweet first picture Father-of-three Iwan is a decorated 400m runner who won World Championship gold in the 1997 4x400m relay, a silver in the same event at the Olympics in 1996 and individual gold in the 1998 European and Commonwealth Games. He's starred in reality shows like Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Hunted since retiring with injury in 2006. Advertisement The Welshman became a father for the third time last year when his youngest son Bowie was born. He also has sons Dougie, six, and Teddy, three, with his longtime partner.
The Sun
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Strictly star's horrifying photo of ‘lowest moment' as he reveals he's been sober for a year
STRICTLY star and Olympian Iwan Thomas has bravely opened up about his secret struggle with alcohol and shared a picture of his lowest moment. The 51-year-old retired athlete took to Instagram today to mark one year of sobriety after admitting he needed four or five drinks to become relaxed in any social situation. 3 Those drinks then escalated into downing shots and wild nights that led to periods of hangxiety and depression. Iwan wrote on Instagram: "Well today is a big milestone for me. Being sober isn't for everyone and it might not be for me forever. "But at the moment it's how I'm choosing to live and if I'm honest I think it makes me a better person. I'm in no way trying to tell people how to live their lives, all I'm saying is I'm proud of myself…" In a video filmed at his home, Iwan said that while he didn't view himself as having an alcohol problem, he drank for acceptance and not pleasure. He admitted he missed drinking, but that he preferred the man he is without it and that it also made him a better dad. The final slide of his post showed him passed out on the floor beside a toilet. Alcoholism campaigner Calum Best said: "Really good video this." One follower wrote: "This is everything…..you don't have to have a 'problem' with drink to want to remain sober, it's about being & feeling a better person." A second said: "Yes my man! incredible and i hope you continue with it! nothing beats feeling great! legend! you've got it." A third posted: "Great stuff Iwan! So honest of you and should be great advice for many." Strictly star secretly welcomes third child as he reveals adorable name and shares sweet first picture Father-of-three Iwan is a decorated 400m runner who won World Championship gold in the 1997 4x400m relay, a silver in the same event at the Olympics in 1996 and individual gold in the 1998 European and Commonwealth Games. He's starred in reality shows like Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Hunted since retiring with injury in 2006. The Welshman became a father for the third time last year when his youngest son Bowie was born. He also has sons Dougie, six, and Teddy, three, with his longtime partner. 3
