Matthew Newton on ‘suicide watch’ as parents anguish

In a frank interview with Tracy Grimshaw, Bert and Patti Newton told of their heartache over the breakdown of their son Matthew.

The former X Factor host is now in a psychiatric hospital on suicide watch, following his meltdown in Rome, during which he allegedly assaulted actress Rachael Taylor.

The showbiz parents explained that Matthew has had trouble with his temper since he was a child.

Patti said, “Tracy he’s never really accepted the fact that he had an illness. I remember he was about 16 or younger, maybe 14 and went to see a psychiatrist or a psychologist I think it was, and this psychologist said to Matthew, you make sure you never do drugs or alcohol because you have the personality that it will take over your life, and you know that was at 14.

“You always blame yourself, I’ve gone through traumas thinking where did I go wrong, what did I do? I would think all mothers would do that under these circumstances.

“I mean as we speak, Matthew is under suicide watch, which is absolutely devastating to a mother and father to think it’s come this and there’s nothing we can do about it.”

Bert Newton said many of the things that have happened he has learned about through the media. While he supports his son, he does not condone his actions.

“I think also Matthew thinks that everything will right itself pretty quickly and that’s not going to happen and I think that what we’re learning at the moment is perhaps something people might benefit from, that you know, if you see some signs, you’ve got to get to it pretty quickly,” he said.

Added Patti, “I said to Rachael many times that we were both on the same side, she and I, we both loved Matthew and we both wanted the best thing for him and hopefully I thought she was the one to get it for him, but rehab wasn’t the answer. It should have been a psychiatric hospital, I think.”

“He’s under brain surgeons and neurologists and things like that at the moment, but years ago bipolar was mentioned but he wouldn’t take that drug because he wouldn’t ever want his creativity to leave him, and that’s what he felt.

Said Bert, “All of these things become significant in rewind because when they’re happening at the time you don’t see anything of major significance, but looking back now you see them as signposts but at the time you don’t recognise where those signposts are taking him or us.”

Grimshaw asked if Matthew got off “too lightly” following his assault case involving actress Brooke Satchwell.

“I suppose in the light of what’s happened now people would question that, but apart from the involvement of getting him legal help we had very little to do with the result,” he said.

In one surprising comment, Patti Newton said she instigated the interview with ACA.

“Bert’s had a very long, good career, over 60 years. I feel very sad about the fact that he might be remembered for the fact that Matthew cause so much trouble and so much heartache for everybody. And I don’t want that to be the case.”

Bert added, “Matthew has to get back to being healthy again, the other people invovled, hopefully can move on and in each case enjoy a good life, and maybe the other benefit is because in some ways Patti and I were a bit naive with those aforementioned signposts maybe they’ll learn from that and maybe another life, young life, can change for the better.”

The X Factor premiered last night on Seven without any trace of Matthew Newton.

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