Actress Denise Welch opens up about battling addiction, depression, and embracing the role of a mentor to The 1975 fans.

Denise Welch, a well-known television personality, is returning to her roots as a theater actress in the premiere of the play "The Gap" by Jim Cartwright. In the play, Welch plays the character Corral, who reminisces about her youth in 1960s London. Welch jokes about the challenging lines written by Cartwright and discusses her outspoken nature, which has both made her a national treasure and a source of irritation for some. Welch has had a successful career in television and has been a long-time panelist on the show Loose Women. She has also been open about her struggles with depression, addiction, and post-natal depression. Welch is proud of her son, Matty, who is the frontman for the band The 1975, and acknowledges the impact her illness had on her family. As she returns to the stage, Welch is cautious about potential triggers for her depression and takes steps to take care of herself. "The Gap" is being performed at the Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester.