Andrea McLean has revealed a secret battle with imposter syndrome.
The 50-year-old television presenter is constantly doubting herself, which has left her paralysed and unable to speak to others, and she explained she often used her ‘Loose Women’ co-stars as inspiration to get through her working day.
Speaking on the ‘ImPODster Syndrome’ podcast, she said: "I’d think ‘What would Kaye Adams say?’ That was the first time I’d massively felt imposter syndrome. I had to tell myself my bosses wouldn’t have offered me the job if I couldn’t do it."
Andrea also explained her anxiety is at its worst when she attends parties, and so she usually ends up hiding in the corner avoiding all the guests.
She added: "Nick, my husband, can walk up to anybody and leave as their best friend. I can’t get over the nerves. I grab the first drink I’m offered just to have something to hold, I stand against a wall and I end up talking to the waitress.
"To walk in normally and just talk to everybody? I can’t do it. Even thinking about it brings me out in hives."
And the ‘Loose Women’ star has even fantasised about swapping places with someone much more confident to see what life could be like if she had the self-believe.
She said: "I would love to swap personalities for a day. I’d be interested to see what it’s like to be the one dancing on the table shouting ‘More tequila!’ "
The news comes after Andrea revealed she suffered a breakdown last year and admitted that part of the problem was that she always "tries too hard to do everything" and bottles up how she’s really feeling.
She explained: "I didn’t mean to talk about it on air. I had been off air for six weeks and then when I went back on it slipped out. I’m not ashamed of it and I’ve learnt so much.
"I think people were surprised as they think, ‘She doesn’t look like the type of person who has a breakdown.’ But what does a person look like?
"It is someone who is a people-pleaser, someone who tries too hard to do everything and can’t say ‘no’ and holds everything in. That’s exactly what I am and that is why it happened."