07-05-2025
BBC commissions new documentary from Heston Blumenthal on his life-changing bipolar diagnosis
The BBC has commissioned a new documentary from Heston Blumenthal following his life changing bipolar diagnosis. With exclusive access to Heston and his family, the hour-long film is a personal and emotional exploration of a serious mental health condition and how Heston is rebuilding his life.
Heston: My Life with Bipolar will air on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer on Thursday 19 June.
Heston Blumenthal is one the world's greatest chefs, with six Michelin stars to his name. Yet in 2023, Heston started experiencing hallucinations and suicidal thoughts - with behaviour so extreme, he was sectioned.
Following a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, Heston started taking medication that would keep him alive but sap his energy and, he feared, extinguish his creativity.
Filmed over six months, this documentary follows Heston in the aftermath of his diagnosis as he tries to understand the role bipolar played in his success and the impact it had on the people he loves. He also explores the state of bipolar care in the UK as he meets people to hear about their own experiences with the condition and the challenges they face.
The documentary is directed for BBC Current Affairs by Joe Myerscough (Inside our Autistic Minds) and Executive Produced by Mike Radford (Al Fayed: Predator at Harrods and Paul Whitehouse: Our Troubled Rivers). The Commissioning Editor is Joanna Carr.
Heston Blumenthal says: 'It took me 50 years to get a diagnosis, so it's been an extraordinary journey to get where I am today. There is still a big stigma around bipolar but it is vital to be able to talk openly about the condition. I know this isn't always easy, but I hope by sharing my experience in this documentary people will gain a greater understanding of bipolar and an insight into my life now.'
Mike Radford says: 'This is the first time Heston has given his account of what happened for a documentary. We're grateful to Heston and his family for giving such a raw and unfiltered view of his life with this condition, which we know impacts the lives of so many people.'
The film features heartfelt and honest testimony from Heston and those closest to him about how his undiagnosed bipolar disorder affected his life.
Heston also hears about the difficulty some face in getting treatment. Something brought home to him when he meets a mother whose daughter took her own life when she struggled to get the care she needed.
Now as he undergoes long term treatment for the condition, Heston describes his worries over whether it will affect his creativity: an important question as we see him continue his journey back to health and running his restaurant empire – centred on multi award winning The Fat Duck.
AR2
