Britain’s Got Talent hopeful Lifford Shillingford has confessed he almost killed himself after a battle with booze and mental health.
The 43-year-old singer, whose live shows will air this coming week, made the brave confession in an interview with the Mirror newspaper.
He told how he became addicted to alcohol and even considered suicide after a previous brush with stardom.
Lifford, who has now quit drinking, said: “I’ve suffered from depression and anxiety since I was a kid but I was only diagnosed 12 years ago.
“I quit with the help of my beautiful wife, who is my rock. She told me I had to make a decision – did I want my family, or to hug a bottle at night?”
Lifford hit the big time very briefly in the year 2000. He was the singer on the Artful Dodger’s hit single Please Don’t Turn Me On, which reached number four in the charts and stayed in the charts for ten weeks.
Read more: Katie Price blasted for inappropriate kids pic
He appeared on Top of the Pops and Jools Holland before getting an album deal.
But a record was never released because of his mental health battle, and he turned to alcohol to cope.
He credits wife Nicola, his childhood sweetheart since the age of 14, with saving his life. The couple have two kids, Patrice, 22, and Tamyra, 19, describing her as his ‘rock’.
Lifford is now Alesha Dixon’s Goldern Buzzer act on BGT and staying positive.
On his second chance at singing success he said: “I went into this not expecting too much, so I’m taking each stage as it comes.
Don’t miss out: Three steps to ensure you see all ED!’s latest news on Facebook
“I’m 43 and I’ve never made an album, but hopefully I’ll get to.”
Are you watching BGT? Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know what you think!