Matt Johnson: “I’d do Strictly for the curse – some of those dancers are well nice!”

The Welsh TV presenter tells Closer about his hopes of finding that special someone, flirting up a storm with Denise van Outen, and his battle to beat depression

With his rugged good looks, Welsh charm and designer W stubble, Matt Johnson is best known as one of TV’S hottest heartthrobs. But despite once being voted the sexiest man in Wales, he admits he’s yet to find The One.

Now, he tells Closer he’s even willing to take a new on-screen role if it will help pave the way to love.

Matt, 35, spent six years in a relationship with fellow Welsh TV personality and One Show presenter Alex Jones, and although the couple – who split in 2009 – remain friends, lasting love has eluded him.

CELEB ROMANCE

After dating Les Misérables actress Samantha Barks for five months in 2013, he had a relationship with Kara Tointon, following her split from Strictly dance partner Artem Chigvintsev.

And now Matt says he’d do Strictly Come Dancing, too, which has become famous for its “curse” – which is said to cause break-ups, make-ups, divorces and engagements among celebs and their dance partners, owing to the sexy dance routines and physical closeness.

Matt – who reveals he has a crush on judge and former ballet dancer Darcey Bussell – says, “I’m thinking of doing Strictly for the curse, some of those dancers are well nice. It’d be great!” Then he jokes with a cheeky wink, “But I don’t think I can do it because of my restraining order with Darcey!”

Matt, who’s currently single, explains, “I’m not going out with any celebs, but I am trying. I’m liking things on Instagram! Dating can be tough and sometimes it can be difficult to meet people.”

Though he was once linked to Denise van Outen, with whom he’s been mates since presenting Channel 5’s OK! TV in 2011, she’s been in a relationship with Essex commodities trader Eddie Boxshall since 2014. And Matt dismisses any Twitter flirtations as banter.

He laughs, “She’s like my sister. We got caught out sending each other eggplant emojis [which is emoji-speak for “penis”].”

PAST DEMONS

While Matt – who previously presented the BBC’S National Lottery draws and appeared as a contestant on Take Me Out last year – is known for his smiley demeanour, he’s spoken frankly about his mental health battle.

His troubles began after an accident in his early 20s, when he slipped, shattering his cheekbone and breaking his jaw and nose. After a stint in hospital, he spiralled into severe depression.

“For the first time in my life, I felt vulnerable. And I didn’t like it. About a year later, I had this life affirming experience when I nearly committed suicide,” he explains.

“I was in Wales being a journalist, that’s where my drinking started. At that point, I was bouncing from job to job and you start to think... ‘I need to focus on something.’ I felt really lost and I was keeping all my feelings bottled up, not dealing with my issues.”

Matt masked his inner torment with his upbeat, friendly personality but, in December 2009, things reached a head when he teetered on the edge of a Spanish balcony, moments away from throwing himself off.

Despite talking himself down, he continued to suffer in silence, and although he went on to bag a top presenting job on ITV’S This Morning in 2010, he struggled to battle his demons.

He says, “I realised I hadn’t dealt with the real issues and all this stuff came back up. I could smell the whisky I used to drink and all the old memories came flooding back.”

Unable to go on, he quit his job in 2014. Matt adds, “I left This Morning four and a half years ago, and I spoke openly about my battle. The more people who talk about

it, the more it normalises it.”

Explaining that TV has a culture of drinking, Matt reveals that working in that industry didn’t help. He says, “It’s actively encouraged to be a bit mental. It’s like, ‘Let’s go drinking and let’s go out for lunch and go

and drink.’ It’s a social and cultural thing.”

BEATING DEPRESSION

Now Matt, who credits quitting booze, occasional therapy, exercise and tackling his chronic insomnia for getting him back on track, says he’s determined to help others fight depression. He reveals, “I’m producing a film on mental health. My life has re-directed towards helping those with mental health problems. After speaking with so many people, I feel like it’s my purpose. I need to start a conversation that’s going to normalise the biggest killer for men in the UK.”