Lewis Capaldi thought he was done playing 'indefinitely' after Glastonbury 2023
The 28-year-old singer returned from an extended hiatus at Glastonbury last month, two years after deciding to take time away from the spotlight following an emotional and challenging set at Worthy Farm.
He made a surprise appearance at this year's festival and has since announced a UK tour for later this year, but there was a very real change he wasn't going to make a comeback.
Speaking to one of his best friends for a chat to mark his new partnership with BetterHelp online therapy platform, Lewis described the 2023 show as 'literally the worst moment' of his life.
The Someone You Love singer said: 'It was a big, big, big old gig. Second song in I was probably just like, 'This has to like… I can't keep doing this to myself and other people as well'.
'People were coming to gigs, and I was like, 'That's not how you want to watch a show'. As far as I was concerned, I was like, 'I'm done indefinitely.' '
Instead of 'living in the moment' the Scottish star – who topped the UK singles charts last week with comeback track Survive – was 'catastrophising'.
Now, he has opened up on how therapy has been a 'massive part of the reason' he's 'able to be a musician again' two years later.
Asked how he had reached a point where he felt better, the Grammy-nominated artist said he had previously been 'lying' to a therapist and 'telling them what I thought they wanted to hear'.
While Lewis 'struggles' with therapy, and doesn't 'have a fun time', he always knows he'll 'feel amazing after'.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
'Sometimes it can be really difficult, but I think I do it because I realise how important is for me to continue to feel good, because I've felt the best I felt in a long time through therapy, I would say that has been the cornerstone of like, why I feel how good I feel now,' he explained.
He pointed out that it's not a 'quick fix', and he's also learned to accept that being an 'anxious person' is part of who he is.
'It's about how I respond to anxiety and how I respond to a lot of stuff in my life,' he said. 'I have neglected to look after myself in the past, both mentally and physically, and I have made promises to myself that I haven't kept.
'I think for me, it's accepting that I'm always going to have this stuff there, it's about how I sort of respond, what steps I take to sort of remain at like base level.'
Through his new campaign with BetterHelp, Lewis is helping the organisation give away 734,000 free hours of therapy – which is a very significant number.
'It's 1,000 hours for every single day that I have, well, since I last played on stage,' he revealed. 'I feel like, if I can be a part of sharing that with other people, why not?'
Got a story?
If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you.
MORE: I'm a freshly graduated mess – and Noah Kahan just emotionally ruined me
MORE: Oasis, Lewis Capaldi, Lady Gaga and more: 2025's most anticipated upcoming tours
MORE: Not inspired by the Glastonbury headliners? These 6 acts blew me away
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Leader Live
40 minutes ago
- Leader Live
Ncuti Gatwa says he left Doctor Who as ‘I am getting old and my body was tired'
The Rwandan-Scottish actor, 32, whose breakout role was Eric Effiong in Netflix hit Sex Education, played the Time Lord for two series after first appearing in a 60th anniversary special with the 10th and 14th incarnations of the Doctor, David Tennant. In May, during his final episode as the 15th Doctor, Gatwa appeared to be replaced by former Doctor Who companion Billie Piper when his character regenerated. Gatwa told the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme: 'I'm getting old, and my body was tired… and I've now just started doing some ballet, so I'm making really great decisions. 'It's the most amazing job in the world, a job that any actor would dream of and – because it's so good – it's strenuous. 'It takes a lot out of you, physically, emotionally, mentally, and so it was time.' Asked if he would ever come back to the show, he said: 'Never say never.' Barbie star Gatwa has played the Doctor since Tennant's Time Lord bi-generated in 2023, after his version of the alien character was brought back to the series as the 14th Doctor. Gatwa was expected to be the UK's spokesperson at the Eurovision Song Contest in May but pulled out, with speculation the decision was connected to controversy surrounding Israel's participation in the competition. 'It all panned out very interestingly. I pulled out of it a long time before it was announced', he said. 'And it was announced when it was announced, I don't know why, but I was just very busy. 'Just had a lot of work schedules, a lot of press around The Roses, around Doctor (Who).' Asked about the speculation surrounding his withdrawal, Gatwa, who did not watch this year's competition, said: 'I was just very busy.' The actor appeared on the Sunday morning news show to discuss the West End premiere of Born With Teeth, a play that re-imagines the relationship between rival playwrights Christopher Marlowe and William Shakespeare. Gatwa plays Marlowe with his Sex Education co-star Edward Bluemel as Shakespeare in the Royal Shakespeare Company production at London's Wyndham's Theatre from August. 'It's a really great story between these two huge literary icons, and it's very exciting to imagine what could have happened in a room together', he said.
Daily Mail
44 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Ofcom chief hits out at BBC 'own goals' over Gaza documentary and Glastonbury coverage saying corporation must 'get a grip'
The head of Ofcom has hit out at BBC 'own goals' over a controversial Gaza documentary and Glastonbury coverage. Dame Melanie Dawes urged the corporation to 'get a grip quicker' as she warned blunders could 'start to erode public trust and confidence'. The intervention came after the BBC apologised earlier this month for 'deplorable behaviour' by punk rap duo Bob Vylan at the Somerset festival. Frontman Bobby Vylan, whose real name is reportedly Pascal Robinson-Foster, led crowds in chants of 'death, death to the IDF' (Israel Defence Forces) during their set, which was shown live on TV and the iPlayer. The BBC has said it will no longer broadcast live performances deemed 'high risk' and its director of music, Lorna Clarke, also reportedly stepped back from her day-to-day duties. Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone was originally aired in February but it was pulled by the broadcaster after it emerged the son of a Hamas minister featured prominently. Another child in the film was the daughter of a former captain in the Hamas-run police force, while a third child was pictured posing with Hamas fighters - prompting allegations the BBC was providing a propaganda platform for the terror group. A review of the corporation's decisions is expected to be published shortly, with a BBC spokesman saying: 'It is vital that this work is done as quickly as possible, but it must also be thorough and follow a proper process.' Dame Melanie told BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme: 'I think it's very frustrating that the BBC has had some own goals in this area, with the Gaza documentary and then with the Glastonbury coverage, and it does start to erode public trust and confidence. 'I think I would say that, above all what frustrates me and others, is that when these things go wrong it can take a long time for the BBC to see that something's happened when everybody else was there within a matter of hours. 'So I would say to the BBC I think they need to get a grip quicker, get these reports and investigations concluded sooner, otherwise there is a real risk of a sort of loss of confidence in the BBC, which is a shame because what the BBC does day by day is bring some really high quality journalism to our screens and to the radio, which is what we need.' Asked if she had faith in the BBC taking action, Dame Melanie said: 'I think it's a tough job to be at the top of the BBC. 'I think the board and the senior team at the BBC need to, as I said, get a bit quicker actually at recognising when something's gone wrong and get a grip of the actions that they need to take - or there is going to be, you know, a real risk that the BBC loses confidence in what it delivers for the public.' Avon and Somerset Police have launched an investigation into comments made during Bob Vylan's Glastonbury performance. The act was already under a police investigation for comments made at a concert a month before Glastonbury. The group issued a statement claiming they were being 'targeted for speaking up' after Avon and Somerset Police began its investigation. Formed in 2017, Bob Vylan are known for addressing political issues in their albums including racism, masculinity and class.
Rhyl Journal
an hour ago
- Rhyl Journal
Ncuti Gatwa says he left Doctor Who as ‘I am getting old and my body was tired'
The Rwandan-Scottish actor, 32, whose breakout role was Eric Effiong in Netflix hit Sex Education, played the Time Lord for two series after first appearing in a 60th anniversary special with the 10th and 14th incarnations of the Doctor, David Tennant. In May, during his final episode as the 15th Doctor, Gatwa appeared to be replaced by former Doctor Who companion Billie Piper when his character regenerated. Gatwa told the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme: 'I'm getting old, and my body was tired… and I've now just started doing some ballet, so I'm making really great decisions. 'It's the most amazing job in the world, a job that any actor would dream of and – because it's so good – it's strenuous. 'It takes a lot out of you, physically, emotionally, mentally, and so it was time.' Asked if he would ever come back to the show, he said: 'Never say never.' Barbie star Gatwa has played the Doctor since Tennant's Time Lord bi-generated in 2023, after his version of the alien character was brought back to the series as the 14th Doctor. Gatwa was expected to be the UK's spokesperson at the Eurovision Song Contest in May but pulled out, with speculation the decision was connected to controversy surrounding Israel's participation in the competition. 'It all panned out very interestingly. I pulled out of it a long time before it was announced', he said. 'And it was announced when it was announced, I don't know why, but I was just very busy. 'Just had a lot of work schedules, a lot of press around The Roses, around Doctor (Who).' Asked about the speculation surrounding his withdrawal, Gatwa, who did not watch this year's competition, said: 'I was just very busy.' The actor appeared on the Sunday morning news show to discuss the West End premiere of Born With Teeth, a play that re-imagines the relationship between rival playwrights Christopher Marlowe and William Shakespeare. Gatwa plays Marlowe with his Sex Education co-star Edward Bluemel as Shakespeare in the Royal Shakespeare Company production at London's Wyndham's Theatre from August. 'It's a really great story between these two huge literary icons, and it's very exciting to imagine what could have happened in a room together', he said.
