Loose Women presenter Denise Welch opened up about how much she missed her son Matty Healy when he went on tour and cherished the time she gets to spend with him

Loose Women star Denise Welch has opened up about the sadness she feels about being Matty Healy’s mum.

Matty, 36, has had no end of controversial headlines including accusations of racism, Islamophobia and misogny.

Most recently the 1975 frontman was linked to global singing sensation Taylor Swift as it was rumoured the two enjoyed a brief affair following her split from Joe Alwyn.

Discussing her son in a new interview, Denise, 65, opened up about how sad and hard it is being away from Matty while he’s on tour, saying she “misses having him to myself”.

She also discussed the moment he told her he needed to go to rehab for heroin addiction.

Denise opened up about how much she missed her son when he went on tour and cherished the time she gets to spend with him ( 
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GC Images)

Denise has battled her own demons with drink and drugs ( 
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REX/Shutterstock)
The former Corrie actress has tackled her own fair share of demons, often discussing how she abused drugs and alcohol.

Speaking to The Sunday Times in a new interview, Denise said she was shocked when she first realised how low her son was.

She said: “I had to stand back and realise that Matty was the son of an alcoholic, and I had to come to terms with the shame that brought.”

Denise later added: “But Matty said, ‘Mum, I wouldn’t be who I am if our house wasn’t a bit of rock’n’roll.”

In 2017 Matty checked spent seven weeks at a rehab clinic in Barbados to treat his heroin addiction and is still in recovery.

The lead singer has written openly about his drug use in songs, and although still drinks alcohol and smokes cigarettes no longer uses heroin.

One thing Denise did not speculate on was her son’s rumoured romance with pop icon Taylor Swift.

The showbiz world was stunned back in May, when it was claimed the two singers had reportedly struck up a romance following the American star’s shock split from British actor Joe Alwyn.

Speaking to The Sun, a source close to Shake It Off hitmaker said at the time: “She and Matty are madly in love. It’s super-early days, but it feels right.

“They first dated, very briefly, almost ten years ago but timings just didn’t work out. Taylor and Joe actually split up back in February, so there was absolutely no crossover.”

But dreams of a lasting love story for the two stars came to an end a month later, when it was reported the pair had called time on their brief union.

Earlier this week, The Sun claimed Matty and Taylor have reunited already and “want to make it work at all costs” – planning to meet up with each other during tour dates. The source added how Matty is “utterly smitten” with Taylor.

However, a source close to Taylor has told MailOnline : “They are absolutely not together and aren’t even in contact anymore.”

An insider close to Matty echoed the statement when speaking with the Mirror.

Amid all the speculation, Matty – whoses exes include FKA Twigs and Hasley – has been seen sharing a lingering hug with brunette artist Sarah Teare in London.

It’s Not Living singer Matty, was pictured in an orange jumper, appeared tired as he carried two coffees to meet his pal with the pair then seen hugging.