Mark Owen of Take That was forced to come out and publicly admit to being a cheater a few hours ago, after one of his mistresses threatened to go to the media with their long affair, the Daily Mail says. Owen has recently married partner of 5 years and mother of his two children, Emma, and is now saying his being a drunk was at the core of his fidelity problems, the same publication informs.

According to the singer, though he’s not trying to make of his drinking habit the only culprit for his two-timing, being an alcoholic and struggling with the addiction for well over 10 years did contribute to him not being able to stay faithful. Most of the affairs he’s had since he and Emma became an item were drunken one-nighters, Owen says. The only exception is a longer affair with his accountant, with whom he even met weeks before getting married.

“I have really let her [Emma] down. Friends, everybody, I feel like I have let everyone down. I have been an idiot. It’s about me, my mistakes. Nobody else is to blame. I have been living with the guilt. It has always been there, you carry it around with you. It held me back in my relationship with Emma. I wouldn’t have done any of this if I had my time again. I am halfway through my life now and this, in a way, is a lesson. You’ve got to learn and that’s what I am going to do,” Owen says of his infidelities.

Though he’s willing to make up for everything and he’s reportedly already seeking treatment for his alcohol problem, reports say Emma is not that easily convinced. Friends of the couple, who also have two children together, say that she’s always suspected him of cheating on her but she still took the confirmation of it very badly. Him going to the media with the story shortly afterwards probably didn’t help either.

“Mark has just dropped an almighty bomb on Emma. She always suspected he was cheating, but he always denied it. She is extremely strong-willed and it is too early to say whether she will stay with Mark. She wants to do what is right for the children. She doesn’t know what to do yet. Mark confessed all to Emma on Tuesday – he had an inkling what Neva was going to do – and they did not spend Wednesday day or night together. Emma is devastated, while Mark feels terrible, but this is something he has been dragging around for years,” unnamed friends reveal for the Mail.

The two, looking pale and upset have been photographed together, entering the London home they shared until the other day, presumably for a “crisis” meeting and to sit down and see what can be done about their situation. Mark Owen, for one, is also telling the British media he’s got his drinking problem almost under control, even receiving some help from Take That fellow Robbie Williams.