Fearne Cotton's Tearful Confession: The Shame That Drove Me

Fearne Cotton has shared the profound impact of a therapy session that led her to write her new book, 'Likeable: How I Broke Free From The Need To Please.' During a discussion with Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley, Cotton explained that her therapist's question about the importance of being liked prompted an emotional realization about her deep-seated need to please others. This personal awakening is a central theme in her latest work.

Shephard, reading the book, confessed to becoming emotional, finding it difficult to process his friend's experiences. Cotton also alluded to periods of 'depression and heaviness' stemming from intense shame, particularly in connection to her former relationship with convicted child sex offender Ian Watkins. The book details her struggles while working in radio when news related to Watkins broke, leading to feelings of shame and public scrutiny.

Cotton has stated that she no longer carries this shame, having worked through it in therapy. She now believes this burden was placed upon her by others. Watkins, who was serving a 29-year sentence, died in prison in October 2025. Cotton has previously spoken about feelings of shame and trolling in relation to their brief past association.