Matthew Kelly, 74, on sobriety after pals called him 'Muriel Malbec'

Matthew Kelly has opened up about going sober after his friends nicknamed him 'Muriel Malbec' due to his love of red wine.

The broadcaster and actor, 75, shot to fame by hosting some of the biggest shows including Stars In Their Eyes from 1993 until 2004 and game shows You Bet and Game For A Laugh. 

Once he left our screens, the star then returned to acting full-time but admitted to struggling with his relationship with alcohol.

That was until he he starred in a production of The Gap at the Hope Mill alongside Denise Welch earlier this year.

Matthew revealed that it was the Loose Women star who inspired him to finally stop drinking after a three month binge.

Denise, 65, has been candid about her own battles with alcohol and has now been sober for 12-years.

Speaking to former X Factor host Kate Thornton on her White Wine Question Time podcast, Matthew shared: 'I thought she's [Denise] quite an inspiration, as you know. And one of the first things she tells you is how long she's been dry. And I thought, "What? This is marvellous". I thought "this is an ideal opportunity".

Read More

Matthew Kelly, 74, confesses he's 's*** with money' after losing all Stars In Their Eyes earnings

'I've got three months with this woman, and I do like a bevvy, as you know. I thought I'll use this three months. And well, there was not a night went by that I didn't get absolutely trashed at the bar afterwards'.

He went on: 'But after that show, I thought I was sitting with a friend and I thought, you know what? I've really got to stop drinking. I said, "I'm going to stop drinking". And he said "do you know what? I want to stop". So I did it'.

'At about ten weeks later, I rang him and I said "how are you getting on?" He said, "well, do you know, I never really stopped to be honest with you". I said '"oh, that's absolutely fine"'.

'So for me it's been about it's been more than six months. On the other hand, the company I was with before used to call me Muriel Malbec. So I thought it's about time I changed!'. 

Last year Denise took to social media to reflect on her decision to give up alcohol as she marked the milestone.

She admitted her 'disastrous' relationship with drink affected her relationship with her husband Lincoln Townley and the lives of her sons Louis, 23, and Matty, 35, who she shares with her ex Tim Healy.

The Coronation Street actress went on to share that although going sober 'wasn't easy', it completed changed her life and the lives of her loved ones. 

In a poignant caption, she penned: '11 yrs sober today!!! Giving up my disastrous relationship with alcohol changed my life, my husband's life and my children's lives. Plus the lives of all who love me.

'It wasn't easy. Addiction is a cruel and frightening illness. But together @lincolntownley and I realised that we were destroying many lives including our own and we did it.

'I now have a wonderful marriage that is the foundation of my life. Our kids are happy and I hope those of you struggling find the strength to stop.

'If alcohol no longer makes you happy, if your drinking makes others lives miserable it's time to stop. There is help there if you need it.'

Kate Thornton’s White Wine Question Time is available to listen to on all podcast platforms.