'I was just about keeping it together': Jessica Rowe reveals she would be 'close to tears' filming Studio 10 before deciding to quit - as she admits to Botox use in a VERY candid interview

By JOSEPH SCRIMSHIRE, SUBSCRIPTIONS EDITOR, AUSTRALIA

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Jessica Rowe was 'just about keeping it together' while filming Studio 10 early last year, before eventually deciding to quit the show to spend more time with her family.

The 48-year-old journalist told The Australian Women's Weekly on Monday that she would be 'close to tears' by the time the cameras stopped rolling every day.

Jessica, who filmed her last episode of Studio 10 in late March 2018, said that her feisty on-screen persona masked her secret struggle with anxiety and depression.

'Close to tears': Jessica Rowe was 'just about keeping it together' while filming Studio 10 early last year, before eventually deciding to quit the show to spend more time with her family

'Close to tears': Jessica Rowe was 'just about keeping it together' while filming Studio 10 early last year, before eventually deciding to quit the show to spend more time with her family

'I could feel at the end of each show on most days I would be close to tears,' she said. 'I'd feel that behind my eyes and was just about keeping it together. And I thought, "Why am I doing this to myself?"

'I knew that I was heading down, I knew that my anxiety was there, that I was getting depressed and that if I didn't make a change I'd start to falter.'

On March 9, Jessica announced her resignation from Studio 10 live on air.

Announcing her exit: On March 9, Jessica announced her resignation from Studio 10 live on air. At the time, she said she'd decided to leave in order to spend more time with her family

Announcing her exit: On March 9, Jessica announced her resignation from Studio 10 live on air. At the time, she said she'd decided to leave in order to spend more time with her family

The veteran broadcaster, who had co-hosted the morning program since 2013, said she'd decided to leave in order to spend more time with her family.

'I've got some news I want to share with all of you because you've been so incredible to me over so many years. I've decided to leave Studio 10,' she told viewers.

'It's been a very hard thing for me to do, but it's because my family need me. I want to be more present, I want to be a more present mum for my girls, Allegra and Giselle. They need their mum.'

Jessica is married to Channel Nine newsreader Peter Overton. The couple share daughters Allegra, 12, and Giselle, 10. 

Family: Jessica is married to Channel Nine newsreader Peter Overton and the couple share daughters Allegra, 12, and Giselle, 10. Pictured on July 1, 2016 in Sydney

Family: Jessica is married to Channel Nine newsreader Peter Overton and the couple share daughters Allegra, 12, and Giselle, 10. Pictured on July 1, 2016 in Sydney

However, shortly after the announcement, Studio 10's former executive producer Rob McKnight claimed on Twitter that the network had been 'planning to sack her for over a year'.

He tweeted: 'Sad to hear [Jess] is leaving Studio 10. They've been planning to sack her for over a year. She blamed me, even though I was trying to save her job.'

A Channel 10 representative swiftly denied these claims, however, telling Daily Mail Australia at the time: 'Mr McKnight's claim is completely wrong, obviously spiteful and deliberately misleading.

'As Jess said, she has decided to leave Studio 10 to devote more time to her family and her other interests. Anyone who suggests otherwise is being petty and ignorant. Jess is welcome back to TEN anytime.' 

Cosmetic treatments: In her wide-ranging interview with The Australian Women's Weekly, Jessica also spoke about her regular Botox use. Pictured with her daughters in December 2017

Cosmetic treatments: In her wide-ranging interview with The Australian Women's Weekly, Jessica also spoke about her regular Botox use. Pictured with her daughters in December 2017

Meanwhile, Jessica also spoke about her regular Botox use during her wide-ranging interview with this month's The Australian Women's Weekly.

She told the magazine she gets the age-defying injections every few months 'to smooth out some frown lines'.

'I didn't tell Pete at the start because I knew he'd be so cross,' Jessica said. 'He'd think, "How ridiculous, how vain and what a waste of money". Of course, he didn't even notice that I'd had it done!' 

Last goodbye: Jessica is pictured on March 30, which was her last day on Studio 10

Last goodbye: Jessica is pictured on March 30, which was her last day on Studio 10

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