Gemma Collins reveals she’s felt lonely in lockdown amid break up from James Argent

Gemma Collins has revealed that she’s felt lonely this year as she’s been forced to spend more time at home and without her usual distractions.

The reality star, 39, candidly detailed how the two national lockdowns have made it difficult to ‘run from yourself’ and made it even more important to check in on pals.

It has been a difficult year for Gemma after she split from on-off TOWIE beau James Argent and revealed that she suffered a third miscarriage in July.  

Candid: Gemma Collins has revealed that she’s felt lonely this year as she’s been forced to spend more time at home during lockdown and without her usual distractions

Speaking about being lonely, Gemma told The Sun: ‘I’ve found the evenings a bit lonely. It is hard, lockdown has not been good for my love life…’

Gemma also said that she’s usually very sociable and enjoys going out at night to catch up with pals, saying that not being able to do this has been ‘tough’.  

She added: ‘The thing about this year and the lockdowns is you can’t run from yourself, you’ve kind of got to get to know yourself a bit more.

‘I’ve also been checking in on other people more often than normal; just checking that everyone’s mental health is OK helps.’

Over: It has been a difficult year for Gemma after she split from on-off TOWIE beau James Argent and revealed that she suffered a third miscarriage in July (pictured together in 2018)

Over: It has been a difficult year for Gemma after she split from on-off TOWIE beau James Argent and revealed that she suffered a third miscarriage in July (pictured together in 2018)

Despite struggling with loneliness at times, Gemma has been staying busy and even taken up cycling – joking the Tour De France will be calling any day now.

It comes after Gemma spoke about addiction, mental health and her dreams for the future in a candid new interview.

The blonde beauty, whose life was touched by addiction during her relationship with ex Arg, who later entered rehab for drug and drink issues told Entertainment Daily that people were ‘petrified of being judged’ when it came to seeking help.

She said: ‘The problem with addiction is it comes in all shapes and sizes and sometimes it’s hard to spot. 

Honest: Gemma said she's found evenings 'hard' as she's usually very social, adding that the lockdowns have meant 'you can't run from yourself'

Honest: Gemma said she’s found evenings ‘hard’ as she’s usually very social, adding that the lockdowns have meant ‘you can’t run from yourself’

Adding there was still a ‘stigma’ around mental health issues, she said:’If someone was suffering with a physical illness, they would get medical help and addiction is no different in that sense. We live in a world where people are petrified of being judged.’

Last year James suffered two near-fatal overdoses at home, with girlfriend Gemma calling emergency services after his family feared he was dead.

The Essex native has since turned his life around and is continuing his recovery after he flew to Thailand earlier this year to go to rehab for his drug and drink addiction. 

Gemma also detailed how she had suffered a third devastating miscarriage in July after falling pregnant with her ex-boyfriend’s baby.  

Last month, she told The Sun: I’ve not talked about this before, but it was my third, each one a devastating loss on my longed-for journey to motherhood. 

‘I’ve been trying to have a baby for nearly a decade now, only to have my hopes dashed time and again by first one miscarriage, then another.’   

Gemma has recently released Christmas single Baby It’s Cold Outside, a cover of the classic ditty with CBB pal Darren Day, with all proceeds going to charity, Rethink Mental Illness. 

The star’s single shot to number seven on the iTunes chart on the day of its release, with Gemma revealing she would love to collaborate with festive legend Mariah Carey for a new Christmas single in 2021. 

She said: ‘I’m sure you would have heard it by now if the GC got a phone call from Mariah. I would love to connect one day, maybe next year we can drop a collab – that would be amazing!”

Next year will see Gemma head in a different direction, after the diva recently told Mailonline she has always ‘hid behind’ the GC as a way of coping, after being branded ‘the fat one’ by cruel trolls when she first joined TOWIE. 

After years in the spotlight, Gemma has decided she’s finally ready to step out from behind the caricature she created of herself and give up the ‘razzle-dazzle’ of fame.   

Looking like a hit: The festive track shot to number seven on the iTunes chart on the day of its release and all proceeds are going to charity, Rethink Mental Illness

Looking like a hit: The festive track shot to number seven on the iTunes chart on the day of its release and all proceeds are going to charity, Rethink Mental Illness