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Andrew Lloyd Webber has revealed he is a recovering alcoholic in a startling health disclosure. Speaking with The Times, the West End icon acknowledged that despite asserting he possessed a “very strong will” when liquidating his wine collection in 2016, he “started to drink secretly” and found himself battling alcohol dependency.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Back in 2016, he declared he had quit drinking “completely,” having consumed wine daily since age 15. He has now disclosed that his sobriety lasted 18 months, during which he was doing “what they call ‘white-knuckling,’ without any backup,” but became concerned that abstinence was hindering his artistic inspiration.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
He confessed to the publication, “And I thought, ‘But I’ve said to everybody that I’m not drinking.’ So I started to drink secretly. I am a recovering alcoholic. Sixteen months ago I decided that I needed help and it’s the best thing that ever happened to me.” It comes years after Bam Margera opened up about her alcoholism recovery journey<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Lloyd Webber is now auctioning off his expensive wines once more \u2014 this time permanently. He’s participating in Alcoholics Anonymous sessions and going through rehab, collaborating with a sponsor to maintain his sobriety, reports the Express<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n He acknowledged that despite believing he was acting covertly, “everybody knows.” He descended into a “downward spiral” and left his family “desperate,” with his cherished wife Madeleine Gurdon “feeling she couldn’t go on.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n He checked into rehab, though his initial attempt “didn’t work” \u2014 however, it motivated him to participate in AA gatherings. The star revealed he “loves” attending the meetings and has formed genuine friendships there.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n