Ian Puleston-Davies has an "exhausting" battle with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).
The former ‘Coronation Street’ star – who was known for portraying bad boy Owen Armstrong – has admitted his condition is so bad that he has to carry wet wipes around with him otherwise he’s overcome with worry that the surfaces aren’t clean enough for him.
Speaking on ‘Good Morning Britain’ on Monday (08.05.17), he said: "I have played many characters but the one I struggle with is myself. Things would get clogged in my head, I would be obsessed with stains on the floor and a fear of sitting down.
"You’re ashamed. It’s very odd, it doesn’t make any sense. It’s irrational behaviour."
The 58-year-old actor has battled with the condition for the majority of his life but it wasn’t until he saw a therapist in his thirties that he was diagnosed with the mental health illness.
He explained: "I have this large antenna in my head which is receiving information which other people would just discard. I have to be forensic and investigative about each and every thought, be it a stain, a sharp edge, is the light off, is the gas off. It’s all encompassing – and it can be exhausting."
Ian even admitted that entering the studio for his interview was tough because he didn’t have enough time to check out his surroundings and make sure they were clean and safe.
He then told hosts Susanna Reid and Piers Morgan that he’ll be using his wet wipes after their chat to clean any potential bacteria from his fingers after shaking hands with them.
Susanna said: "We really appreciate you coming in – I know it’s a struggle for you."
Ian Puleston-Davies has OCD
