Celebrity Chef Opens Up About Bipolar Disorder Diagnosis

New documentary – Heston: My Life With Bipolar

Summary report by Alex Rowan

— Celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal, known for his inventive dishes such as bacon‑and‑egg ice cream and snail porridge, says he was diagnosed bipolar disorder.

In November 2023, Blumenthal, 59, experienced a week‑long manic episode. He said he had hallucinations and suicidal thoughts.

Concerned for his safety, his wife Melanie, had authorities intervene. Blumenthal was forcibly hospitalized for nearly two months. He spent 20 days in a psychiatric ward and an additional 40 days in a clinic.

Blumenthal said the hospital stay was “a bit like a prison.” He said he has gaps in his memory of the ordeal. The diagnosis was the first time in his life that he was able to identify his bipolar disorder. He believes he has had for years.

Blumenthal says he has now stabilized with medication. He’s focused on establishing routines and getting good sleep. He said he’s gained some weight in recovery and his speech is slowed. He also worries the treatment may have dampened the creative highs that fueled his past inventiveness.

A BBC Two documentary titled Heston: My Life With Bipolar aired in in the UK in June 2025. It’s not yet available to watch in the US.

The film offers a raw exploration of his diagnosis. It includes emotional encounters with his children—most notably a poignant exchange with his son Jack—while also underlining shortcomings in UK mental health care.

Blumenthal has taken on a role as an ambassador for Bipolar UK. The organization aims to dismantle stigma around the condition and shorten the diagnosis delay—which averages nearly a decade.

Blumenthal is now back in the kitchen, preparing a “Greatest Hits” menu celebrating his restaurant’s 30th anniversary.

Sources:

“It’s part of who I am”: Heston Blumenthal on the bipolar diagnosis that saved his life … — The Observer, March 16, 2025
Documentary review: Heston: My Life With Bipolar offers deeply personal look — The Guardian, June 19, 2025
BBC documentary’s emotional interview with son Jack — Evening Standard, June 2025