It’s been a year since brave television star Leah Wright first revealed that she’d been in an abusive relationship, and how, during one particular violent attack she thought she was going to die.
The mum-of-three opened up about what she’d been through while working with a specialist charity to help other women experiencing and escaping domestic abuse.
And now, a year on, she’s continuing on her journey to inspire other survivors, by appearing on tonight’s episode of Channel 4’s show First Dates, where she fearlessly puts herself in front of the cameras in an attempt to show others they too can get back out there.
Bosses at the popular Channel 4 dating show got in touch with the former TOWIE star, who is part of the popular Wright family, earlier this year, and although Leah admits felt nervous ahead of filming, she knew she had to do it.
She said: ‘It’s been four years since I left my abuser, and a year since I came out as a survivor. The last few years have been about healing myself, getting myself in a stronger place, and obviously it is very scary to put yourself back out there again. Then there’s that voice in your head saying, “will I ever be a good judge of character again” after everything you’ve gone through with that person who’s meant to love you. It makes you over think everything.’
Glamorous Leah, 46, cousin of Mark, 38, and Jess, 39, and older sister of Elliott, 45, who all appeared together on the hit Essex reality TV show, spoke to her family before deciding whether or not to take part.
A year on since Leah Wright revealed she’d been in an abusive relationship, she’s continuing on her journey to inspire other survivors, by appearing on tonight’s episode of Channel 4 ’s show First Dates
She said: ‘It’s been four years since I left my abuser, and a year since I came out as a survivor. The last few years have been about healing myself, getting myself in a stronger place’
She said: ‘Jess appeared on the show during our TOWIE days and she encouraged me to do it. She told me to just go for it, and said what a nice experience she’d had, so I thought why not? I knew I’d feel really safe, as I’d have people around me, so why not rip the bandage off and just do it.’
Leah filmed her episode earlier this year, and is hoping that by appearing on the show, others will see just how far she’s come.
‘Of course I was nervous,’ she said.
‘Apart from doing a video about my abuse for the charity I’d not been in front of the cameras since leaving TOWIE which was nearly ten years ago. It was hard when they asked me what I was looking for in a man because you want someone kind, but no-one ever knows who’s going to be kind in their life, especially when you’ve been with an abuser. They’re always going to act like they’re kind, and then there’s the love bombing, so you’re always going to have that in the back of your mind. But for me once I agreed to do it, I was fully invested in it. The whole team behind the scenes were amazing and I was able to just be myself.’
In tonight’s show viewers will see Leah paired up with a single dad. And while we are not revealing how they got on during their date, Leah admits that taking part in the show has really helped her confidence.
She said: ‘I wanted to let other women know that it’s not easy to put yourself out there. It is so scary to put your trust into someone else, even walking into a date, to do that is a lot.
‘Also, you get so comfortable being alone, being just you and your kids in the home, and to think you’ve got to allow another man to come in there eventually, do I want that? Am I ready for that?
‘Am I ready to even have a date with somebody and feel that confidence in myself again. There’s a lot of self doubt when you’ve been through abuse. I’ve sat there and thought, am I good enough? Am I good enough for someone else, am I too damaged? Am I going to ruin this?
Leah, cousin of Mark Wright, 38, who appeared together on the hit Essex reality TV show TOWIE, spoke to her family before deciding whether or not to take part in First Dates
The mum-of-three bravely revealed that she thought she was going to die at the hands of her abusive ex after he head butted her and grabbed her by the throat
‘You still have those traumas that really haunt you. So for me to do this, with a TV crew, well it’s really helped with my confidence. You actually forget that the cameras are there, they just make you feel so at ease.
‘Lovely Merlin and Fred, the staff all keep an eye on you, it was just a really lovely atmosphere. I’d grown up in the restaurant business, so I knew what Fred’s job was and Merlin’s.
‘Obviously, my brother has still got Olivia’s in Spain, so I know how it all works. The staff were all so friendly and professional. It didn’t feel like I was on a television show at all. You really are on a date and you can just be yourself and relax.’
Leah, who is currently on holiday in Spain with her mum, is planning on watching the show with her friends and family in her brother’s restaurant. Brother Elliott recently had another child, a little girl called Dolly, with his wife Sadie. While cousin Mark and wife Michelle Keegan, 38, had little Palma back in March.
Leah added: ‘My family are all so proud of me, and can see how far I’ve come especially over the past year since I spoke out about everything I went through. Life at the moment is good. I feel like I’m on a train and it’s just moving forward, but I’m feeling super positive about everything.
‘I’m talking to other charities about working with them and I still get women messaging me all the time on social media. It’s actually heart wrenching at times. There are still so many out there living with their abusers, afraid to leave them. I just always encourage them to call the number.
‘I can’t give them professional advice because I’m not professionally trained, but I can be there for them, listen and share my own experience and try to guide them.’
Leah will be on tonight’s episode of First Dates, on Channel 4 at 10pm.
