London, March 12: British boy bander Mark Owen told how former Take That member Robbie Williams is helping him overcome his drinking demons.
The Sun reported Friday the star revealed former alcoholic Williams was giving him advice about how to get back on his feet.
Owen, 38, confessed to The Sun that he secretly fought a serious drink problem for over a decade.
His admission came after he dramatically disclosed his 10 flings – including one long-term affair – behind the back of his wife Emma.
She threw him out of their southwest London home after he owned up to her on Wednesday.
But he later returned to the house to talk about his future with the mother of his two children, Elwood, three, and Willow Rose, one.
His tearful wife, 33, asked for assurances that he would give up alcohol for good and would do everything in his power to not let his behaviour affect the children.
As his troubles built up, Owen knew he must come clean to bandmates Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Jason Orange.
“I told the lads a few weeks ago that I am trying to deal with a drink problem. I spoke to Rob about it, too,” he said.
Owen, who also admitted he was a heavy cannabis user and still smokes occasional joints, took to the bottle after Take That first split in 1996.
But he insisted his drinking never interfered with his work with the hugely popular band once they got back together.
“When I did my solo stuff I would have a drink but I couldn’t do it with Take That,” said Owen.
“There’s too much to do, too much to think about. I always had my professional head on with Take That, but then I would go to the bar and start drinking.”
—Agencies