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Heston Blumenthal Reconnects With Son in Candid Bipolar Documentary

The BBC Two film documents his path from diagnosis to advocacy for open conversations on bipolar disorder

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Chef Heston Blumenthal was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at 57 (Photo: BBBC Studios/Patrick Acum)
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Overview

  • On June 19, BBC Two aired “Heston: My Life With Bipolar,” in which Blumenthal candidly recounts years of untreated hallucinations, manic episodes and suicidal thoughts.
  • The film shows an emotional exchange in Marlow where his eldest son Jack describes how his undiagnosed episodes made relaxed conversations impossible and caused lasting strain.
  • Blumenthal credits his wife Melanie Ceysson with arranging his November 2023 sectioning, a turning point that led to his formal bipolar diagnosis and treatment.
  • Earlier this year he joined Bipolar UK as an ambassador to spotlight the more than one million adults in Britain living with bipolar disorder, many without formal diagnoses.
  • He hopes the documentary will break stigma and encourage greater openness about bipolar disorder to help prevent isolation and reduce suicide risk.