Heston Blumenthal sheds tears as son says: 'Talking to you was horrible'

Evening Standard

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.

Transcript

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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