Note: This article discusses subject matter such as PTSD and bereavement.
Martin Lewis has detailed his struggles following the death of his mother, sharing that he had symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.
The financial expert, who appears on both Good Morning Britain and This Morning, lost his mother, Susan, when he was aged just 11, with the family member tragically losing her life in a horse riding accident.
During Tuesday’s (15 April) episode of This Morning, Lewis spoke with hosts Dermot O’Leary and Alison Hammond about the trope of the ‘wicked stepmother’ that exists in fairy tales, with the financial expert candidly drawing on his own personal experience.
“My stepmother joined us in 1986, when I was 14. The stereotype wasn't the issue,” he recalled. “The issue was, I had a stepmother joining me when I was still in terrible grief of the loss of my mother.
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“My stepmother did everything right. There is nothing she could've done that would've made me want her to be there because of the reason she was there and the great difficulties. I remember when she took down some of our family photos."
He added: “I get on well with my stepmother now and she's still in my life. I have a wonderful little half-sister and it's all fantastic."
Speaking of the wider conversation, he admitted he is "frustrated" that all the talk is around the stepmother when "there are children involved".
"We were one family. We were with my dad because we lost my mum. It was very hard for my stepmother, but it was very hard to have a stepmother too, at 14 years old, [whilst] suffering from post-traumatic stress and grief.
“[She did] the best job that she could and we get on very well now but I didn't want her there and I didn't like her being there - I think that's perfectly understandable at the time.”
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Lewis, who also hosts his own show, recently shared support for his wife Lara Lewington after Click, the BBC technology show, was relaunched with a new presenting team.
In a heartfelt post, Lewis wrote to his wife: “Very proud husband here. And in no doubt, one door closing will see many more open.”
If you identify with the themes in this article, the NHS has resources available to help with grief counselling and other support in the UK. In the US, the CDC also has resources available for those grieving.
If you've been affected by the issues raised in this story, organisations who can offer support include the NHS, Samaritans on 116 123 or Mind on 0300 123 3393. Readers in the US are encouraged to visit mentalhealth.gov.
Reporter, Digital Spy George is a freelance writer who specialises in Movies and TV. After graduating with a degree in Film Studies and Journalism from De Montfort University, in which he analysed the early works of Richard Linklater for his dissertation, he wrote for several websites for GRV Media. His film tastes vary from blockbusters like Mission: Impossible and John Wick to international directors such as Paolo Sorrentino and Hirokazu Kore-eda, and has attended both the London and Berlin film festivals.
