Popstar Peter Andre shares the devastating reality of living with a parent with Alzheimer’s, admitting it’s ‘so painful’ for everyone who loves and cares for them

Peter struggles with his mum’s sad prognosis(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images)

Peter Andre has admitted he experiences feelings of guilt as his mum Thea, who lives in Australia, continues to battle Alzheimer’s disease. The dad of five spoke out after former GMTV star Fiona Phillips released a heartbreakingly honest account of her own struggles resulting from the neurological disease.

Peter’s mum Thea was diagnosed with Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, both of which are progressive neurological diseases which affect both brain function and movement of the body. In his weekly column for OK!, the Mysterious Girl singer said he and his siblings felt “guilt and worry” as they witnessed their beloved mum deteriorate.

Peter takes every opportunity he can to spend time with his mum, Thea(Image: Instagram)

“I read about Fiona Phillips’ experience of Alzheimer’s and the strain it has taken on not just her but her family,” he said. “It’s absolutely heartbreaking. With a disease like Alzheimer’s it’s so hard, number one, for the person affected, but it’s also heartbreaking for those who love and care for them.”

Former Mirror columnist Fiona, 64, published an article last week detailing her everyday life with condition, and the effect it has had on not just herself but her loved ones.

In a joint memoir written with her husband of 28 years, Martin Frizzell, Fiona recalled discovering she had the progressive illness in 2022, and revealed she initially attributed her brain fog and mood swings to menopause.

Fiona Phillips and Martin Frizell have written a painfully honest memoir together(Image: Getty)

Her husband Martin, who was the boss at ITV’s This Morning for a decade until stepping down in February to take care of Fiona, also revealed the extent to which the disease has impacted Fiona’s cognitive processes. On bad days, he shared, her confusion leads her to ask to see her parents who have sadly already passed away.

In excerpts from their memoir published in the Daily Mail, he wrote: “It is January 2025 as I write this, and Fiona needs a lot of help,” said Martin. “She needs help showering and brushing her teeth. She can do these things physically, but is unable now to think about how she should do them…”.

Popstar Pete said he was all too familiar with the impact Alzheimer’s has on those around the person affected, and that he empathised with Fiona and Martin.

Peter’s parents are both in their 80s now

With my mum, I see the decline happening, and I know the feelings of guilt and worry that we, her loved ones, feel. It is so painful for everyone and my heart goes out to Fiona, her husband Martin and her boys.”

Thea and his dad Savvas live on Australia’s Gold Coast, and he regularly travels to visit them. During a visit Down Under in January, Pete revealed said his visits also brought up mixed emotions. “Being with my mum and dad in Australia was incredible, but understandably also very emotional. I went with my brother, Michael, and we got to spend quality time with my sister as well.

“The hardest bit for me is leaving them. Both Mum and Dad are on the decline, unfortunately, especially my mum.”