Fearne Cotton, the former BBC Radio 1 presenter, has opened up about why she would never return to live TV or radio, claiming that her job had “literally been ruining my mind.” Cotton announced she was leaving the BBC in 2015 and now presents the chart-topping wellbeing podcast, Happy Place. In an interview with The Times, Cotton cited her anxiety as the main reason for quitting the entertainment industry, saying, “I’d get a week down the line and go, ‘I feel ill — I can’t do this’… Am I that desperate to be seen or heard?”. Cotton continued, “I’ve learnt that I couldn’t do live radio or TV for any money in the world.”
Cotton also referred to cancel culture, explaining that “you could do one thing and you’re done… I also think I’ve had positive feedback from what I’m doing now because I’ve actively chosen to step away from the shiny stuff – and people like that.” Lastly, she discussed “tall poppy syndrome,” explaining, “we celebrate the new person on the scene, but then as soon as you’re established, people cannot wait for you to f*** up… People are waiting for you to cock up so they can all point fingers and say that you’ve always been terrible.” Cotton also claimed that she had been sacked multiple times without notice.
Cotton’s comments come in the context of a wider debate on how the entertainment industry impacts mental health, particularly regarding the rise of cancel culture. For Cotton, “all my mental health lows are because of my job. Nothing else. It is not conducive to a balanced mind.” She added, “putting myself in that is like putting me in a pit of lions. My nervous system can’t take it – it’s absolutely shot.”
The presenter’s decision to step away from the limelight has been met with approval from fans and critics alike, as Cotton has become a role model for those in the entertainment industry struggling with their mental health. Cotton’s experience highlights the importance of prioritizing mental health and reinforces the need for changes in the entertainment industry to better support those who work in it
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