TOWIE star James 'Arg' Argent 'hated' girlfriend Gemma Collins at height of cocaine addiction

The former Only Way Is Essex star opened up about his cocaine addiction via video link on This Morning

James "Arg" Argent has revealed how his battle with cocaine made him "hate" his girlfriend Gemma Collins in an emotional interview on This Morning.

The former Only Way Is Essex star suffered two near-fatal overdoses at his home at the height of his addiction.

Appearing on the daytime TV show via video link, the reality star discussed his demons with hosts Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes - which you can see in the video above.

"When I was deep into my addiction I would hate Gemma," he said.

"I'd be like, 'Why are you telling my family? Why are you telling bosses? You're going to ruin my career'.

"But she refused to lie for me, she would never cover up, she'd never want to enable me to continue my addiction.

"At the time, I hated her. I wanted to be left alone to get on with it.

"She gave me some tough love for sure. She was hard on me. Thank God she was because if it wasn't for Gemma calling the ambulances to my house, who knows what could have happened.

"I have put my own life at risk, my career and health. More important than that it's what I've put my parents, friends, girlfriend and manager through.

"The only way I can make amends with them is by staying clean and sober. It's all good making these promises, but action speaks louder than words."

Speaking further on the subject the 32-year-old said: "I kind of feel like it was the worst kept secret over the past few years.

"It was quite apparent to everybody I had had various trips to rehab and stuff.

"I kind of felt... I never wanted to come out and own it and admit to my problems.

"I thought people would judge me, people would cast opinions on me and people would look down on me."

After reaching rock bottom on Christmas Day, Arg called up his best friend Mark Wright to ask for help.

His former TOWIE co-star booked Arg into a rehab centre in Thailand for 10 weeks.

"When I look at it, some of my heroes - Ronnie Wood from the Rolling Stones, Robbie Williams, Russell Brand and Davina McCall... If they can have similar problems to myself and move forward and get themselves health and happy and achieve amazing things, I think that's what I want to do as well."

This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV.