Russell Kane, the comedian, has disclosed that he is receiving treatment for internet addiction and likened the lure of social media to cocaine.

Kane said his use of a smartphone to monitor social media had become out of control and was affecting his family life.

Speaking on his Boys Don’t Cry podcast, Kane, 42, said: “I’ll throw something out there. I’ve had six counselling sessions for internet addiction. Six, because it’s affecting my life.

I haven’t shared this publicly; in fact, I don’t think my mum even knows this. I was getting in, say, from a gig, going back on a Sunday morning, and all my family has arrived to a barbecue and I’ll go and get changed.

“But I wasn’t just going up there to get changed, I was going up there because I wanted to refresh my socials and have a few minutes on the phone.

“That is like someone going to the bathroom to do coke. I am no longer in control of how I’m using that machine.”