Andrea McLean has attributed her dramatic Loose Women exit to the mental strain caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
The 51-year-old Scots TV star announced, on Monday, that she would be leaving the ITV show when it wraps up for Christmas this year.
Fellow panel member Janet Street-Porter quizzed her on the reasons for her departure on Wednesday’s programme.
Andrea said the mental trauma from her breakdown last year and the subsequent Covid-19 crisis made her reassess her life.
The Glasgow-born presenter said: “I had a really rough year last year.
"And I think that anyone who has experience any kind of mental distress then obviously we have a global pandemic, you stop and think about your life.
“There was so much talking about life going back to the way it was, and I thought, if you discount this year and go into next year, then that means I’ll be going back to 2019.
“You’re actually going backwards if you want everything to be as it was and I want to look forward.
“I realised that I actually need to be brave and I need to make bold steps.
“I’m 51…how much longer have I got?”
Earlier this year, the Loose Women star revealed that she suffered from a breakdown following her appearance on SAS: Who Dares Wins in 2019.
Andrea said that one of the tasks released some demons she had previously kept close to herself.
The questioning from a brutal interrogation challenge blew her way of dealing with the trauma out in the open.
Andrea told the Daily Record that she was in a much better place following therapy.
The Scots presenter will now focus on providing mental health support for women through her website.
She revealed that she has around ‘four or five’ shows left before she brings her 13-year stint as Loose Women host to an end.
