Viewers hearts broke across the country on Tuesday afternoon when former X Factor contestant Janet Devlin revealed traumatic details of her battle with alcoholism and a failed suicide attempt.
Janet, who first shot to fame at the end of 2011 aged 16 when she reached the latter stages of the ITV talent show in the series won by Little Mix, appeared live from her home to speak to the Loose Women about her past struggles, with her admitting she was an alcoholic at the age of just 20.
Candidly discussing what sparked her addiction to alcohol, Janet explained: "Probably my failed suicide attempt," leaving panellists Andrea McLean, Denise Welch, Jane Moore and Brenda Edwards visibly shocked.
Janet went on: "By the age of 18 I had a definite problem. I turned to alcohol to give me a confidence boost.
"It got to the point where I woke up with a bottle of gin under my pillow every day. I had to have a drink before work and I had to have a drink at night. It went downhill very quickly."
Janet said when she was in social situations, a voice in her head would tell her: "they don't even like you," adding: "the only thing that would get rid of that insidious voice was alcohol."
The now 25-year-old revealed that it was her mum who got her help after she 'marched her to a clinic,' and she was given a card for Alcoholics Anonymous.
"The first meeting changed my life," she ended.
Janet's heartbreaking interview prompted an outpouring of well wishes from viewers watching at home.
One tweeted: "Well done for being so open about it all ,wish you lots of luck," and another commented: "Thanks so much for your honesty JD, we've all got your back."
