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  • 6/19/2025
Heston Blumenthal broke down in tears as he spoke about the toll his undiagnosed bipolar disorder took on his family during an emotional conversation with his son Jack.The 59-year-old chef, best known for his experimental cooking and TV shows Heston’s Fantastical Food and Heston’s Feasts, was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in November 2023. His new BBC documentary Heston: My Life With Bipolar, airing Thursday, explores how the condition affected both his personal life and mental health.Blumenthal recalled suffering hallucinations, manic episodes, and suicidal thoughts before being sectioned — a decision made by his wife, French entrepreneur Melanie Ceysson, whom he credits with saving his life.

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00:00So, I've done a sort of master interview, and Joe, who's interviewing me, said,
00:06what do your kids think of your bipolar?
00:11And I stopped, I thought, I haven't spoken to him about it until now.
00:18You know, we find it difficult as a family.
00:22Obviously, you're kind of keeping everything together.
00:24However, it's nice now to have, not a label on it, but something we can refer back to and think,
00:31oh, he wasn't just being a dick, that type of thing.
00:35Yeah.
00:37We just wanted a relaxing conversation with our dad.
00:40And we weren't allowed to have one.
00:42Because I just didn't assume.
00:43You just didn't. Exactly.
00:45You didn't want to know anyone's thoughts.
00:50I just started to think, you gave a s***.
00:51I said, yeah, we're all right, we're just doing this.
00:55And you would just literally talk over, and then go, I'm doing this, that, that, that, that, I'm going to change the world.
01:02It always started off really well for a few minutes.
01:05And then it just turned a few minutes.
01:08I have to walk away sometimes, to go, like, we're not doing this.
01:11And every time, you probably try to hype ourselves up to come see you.
01:15It's like a massive, I'm so sorry.
01:17If we plan it three weeks in advance, mentally, just getting prepared just to see you for half an hour, it's horrible.
01:24And it was constant.
01:28And there's nothing I can do to help you.
01:37Put myself together.
01:38Yeah.
01:39We don't come.
01:40You know, you know, talking about this.
01:43This happens.
01:47And I realise.
01:51It's.
01:56Not, not me being bipolar.
01:59Well, it is me being bipolar.
02:01It's damaging the people I love.
02:02They'd be around me.
02:07So I'm sorry.
02:10I know.
02:11I know.
02:16And I don't think you have to say that.
02:18Because we know, we know you kind of, are in a bit of a world of your own on certain points.
02:22And this conversation needs to be had, didn't it?
02:24I think.
02:25Because we're.
02:25Yes.
02:26But, I just want you to know, that I love you.
02:32I forgive you for everything.
02:34And I'm really proud to be your son.
02:38This is what I'm doing for my lips to stop moving.

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