Take That star Mark says sorry

Date published: 12 March 2010

Take That star Mark Owen revealed today he has been struggling with a drink problem for at least a decade.

He told a newspaper he had discussed his drink problem with bandmates Gary Barlow, Jason Orange and Howard Donald and had sought advice from former Take That member Robbie Williams, who battled alcohol and drug addiction.

The admission cames after the 38–year–old, Oldham-born singer apologised for having a string of affairs behind his wife’s back.

Owen, who has often been seen as a “squeaky clean” member of the reunited group, said he was deeply sorry for the pain he had caused to his wife and friends through his flings with as many as 10 women.

The pop star and his wife Emma, who have two children, married only last October but have been together for five years.

He confessed to having seen several women during the years of their relationship.

And in fresh revelations today, Owen branded himself “a prat”, disclosing that he was seeing a therapist in a bid to “sort things out”.

The singer — who also admitted he had been a heavy cannabis user and still smokes the occasional joint — said: “I have had issues for a long time. I’ve drunk for the last 10 years and it got to a bad point.”

He went on: “I never really saw the problem. I carried on drinking through my relationship with Emma and it got to the point where she asked me to stop.

“I’ve never liked drinking during the day but once the kids went to bed, I’d get the bottle open and off I went.

“I have been a prat. I wasn’t thinking — I don’t think logically when I’m drunk. I’m not the person I want to be when I’m drunk. I can be a nightmare to live with.”