Vicky Pattison has opened up about her relationship with her dad now after she addressed the devastating impact of his addiction on her in a Channel 4 documentary.
The former Geordie Shore star appeared on Good Morning Britain to announce her exciting new role as a patron for the National Association for Children of Alcoholics (Nacoa) after speaking out about the illness.
Vicky helmed the documentary Alcohol, Dad and Me last year, which saw her confront her own relationship with alcohol as well as that of her dad John’s addiction.
The 35-year-old appeared in the ITV studio with hosts Susanna Reid and Ed Balls, who asked what it was like doing the programme alongside her dad and speaking openly about his alcohol battle.
The I’m A Celebrity winner started by stressing that her relationship with dad John was ‘great’, adding: “It's dead important to mention that my dad is a really lovely man who just happened to be ill.
“Even when he was completely consumed by his illness, our relationship was always good. He’s supportive and kind with everything I do.”
She continued: “It’s lovely to have been able to do this with him. My dad is in a good place currently.
“What people have to understand about alcoholism is recovery is never linear. There are good days and bad days.”
Reflecting on her announcement as a spokesperson for the Nacoa UK charity, Vicky said her dad was hugely proud.
“He’s very excited to be part of something that’s providing help to people going through something he went through himself,” Vicky said. “He knows how difficult it is.”
During the documentary, Vicky shared fears that her dad could die before she has children due to his alcoholism in emotional scenes.
She told him: “I really want to be a mam. I really want to have kids. I want my kids to meet you.
“I’m so worried dad that if you don’t stop drinking, and you don’t get a proper handle on it, that you won’t meet them. That really scares us. I can’t go through it anymore.”
She also confessed that she had been putting off having children amid fears alcoholism was ‘genetic’ and could be passed on to future offspring.
She said: “Now I am in a really good place with a nice man and I’ve done this documentary and learnt loads about this illness.
“I understand there is an element of it that is learnt behaviour and potentially hereditary but more than that I know we have choices as well.”
