Ulrika Jonsson has revealed that she felt "quite broken" before deciding to quit alcohol six months ago.
The 57-year-old revealed in June that she had given up drinking for good, seeking help after admitting to frequent binge drinking alone, which often led to blackouts.
On Thursday, the TV personality celebrated her six-month sobriety milestone in a heartfelt Instagram post, crediting her loved ones for their support along the way.
Jonsson shared a current photo of herself alongside an older image taken "under the influence of alcohol," a picture she admitted she once "couldn’t bear" to look at.
Detailing her road to sobriety, she began: “Today I am 6 months sober. On the 5th June 2024, I had the gift of desperation and reached out for help. I no longer recognised myself and I surrendered.
“Many people have asked me how I’ve done it and all I can say is that no woman is an island - I have not done this alone. The willingness to give up alcohol came from me, yes, but without support of friends, family and my new tribe, I would not have made it this far.
“This is a journey and not a destination. It’s never over. It’s a process in progress. But once you resolve to make changes, beautiful things happen.”
She added: “It’s been hard and I’m sure it will continue to be but I am learning serenity and have gained an inner peace I’ve never, ever had.
“The turmoil inside me is dissipating and I’m learning to accept the things I cannot change and I’m finding the courage to change the things I can.”
Reflecting on the image when she was “drunk”, she continued: “Pic. 2: is of me in the midst of the madness. Another drunk moment. At first I couldn’t bear to look back at pictures of myself under the influence of alcohol. The cloak of shame was too heavy a burden.
“But now I look at those images and feel pity and sympathy for that girl - she desperately needed to be scooped up; held tightly and helped. Not shamed or judged. She was quite, quite broken and had no idea there was another way.”
“There is so much more to say - and I will say it in time. I’m still very much at the beginning of my journey but my life has changed in a beautiful way. It’s a spiritual thing. One day at a time….,” she shared.
“Thank you to all those who have supported me - my 4 Ungratefuls; my Bestie and close friends. And, of course, my new tribe of friends who are helping to keep me upright; showing me the way without judgment.”
The former Gladiator presenter’s post was met with an outpouring of support and congratulations from fans and celebrity friends, including Kirsty Gallacher, Grace Dent, and Helen Skelton.
Her candid post comes after she claimed Gregg Wallace “made a rape joke” on the set of Celebrity Masterchef when she took part in 2017.
The TV star, 60, stepped down from fronting the BBC TV cooking show on Thursday after almost 20 years following allegations of historic misconduct.
Several people have now come forward with claims about Wallace, including Jonsson, Kirstie Allsopp, Vanessa Feltz and Penny Lancaster.
The former weather presenter claims that the alleged remarks were made to another female contestant who became "really distressed" and walked off the set.
Jonsson discovered what had been said when she went to check on if the person was okay.
She claimed: "She then told us that Gregg Wallace had made a rape joke. She was really distressed about it.”
The contestant then retold the joke to Jonsson, before going off to speak to a producer about the incident.
“They then went off to speak to Gregg,” she said. “After a while he came up…and he apologised.”
“He could hardly get his words out... He was apologising, and he had tears in his eyes."
The former Gladiators star said that in her opinion, Wallace should not have told the joke in the first place.
The incident is said to have been handled by managers on set, who did not report it to bosses at production company Banijay.
