Heston Blumenthal tearfully reveals why wife had him sectioned

18 Jul 2024

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Heston Blumenthal broke down in tears as he told how his wife had him sectioned for his own safety.

Heston Blumenthal - Figure 1
Photo Yahoo News

The celebrity chef – who recently revealed he has been diagnosed as bipolar – appeared on The One Show with wife Melanie Ceysson where he opened up about the difficult events that led up to him being sectioned under the mental health act.

Bipolar disorder, formerly known as manic depression, is a serious mental health condition that involves extreme highs and lows of mood.

The Fat Duck restaurateur recalled the shocking experience of answering the door to be greeted by a police officer, several fire fighters and a doctor with a syringe ready to sedate him.

What, how and why?

Heston Blumenthal has been diagnosed as bipolar. (AFP via Getty Images)

Blumenthal, 58, appeared on The One Show to discuss his own experience of bipolar, along with his third wife, French entrepreneur Ceysson.

The Michelin star winning chef confided: "These recurring highs to lows were getting strong and stronger and more regular. I was on a massive high and had been for several days. I was having hallucinations, feelings of paranoia and even suicidal thoughts." As Blumenthal broke down in tears, Ceysson added: "You are a danger for yourself. It's when I pushed the red button."

Heston Blumenthal - Figure 2
Photo Yahoo News

The TV chef explained: "Melanie made the difficult decision to have me sectioned which involved me being sedated. There was knock on the door, there's a policeman, then five firemen and then a doctor with an assistant and I was like 'What the hell is going on here?' And then I saw the doctor pulling out this big syringe and then I woke up in hospital."

His wife confessed: "It has been the most horrible hours of my life. I was too much exhausted."

Blumenthal – who was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in 2017 – said: "I realise now looking back on it, it's horrible for people that care about you. At the end of the day you saved my life." He added: "Since my diagnosis I've learned a lot more about myself, and I've realised that a lot of my creativity is thanks to bipolar."

The chef said: "I'm hoping that talking about it can change the way we see the condition and put it in the spotlight for all the right reasons."

Heston Blumenthal - Figure 3
Photo Yahoo News
What else happened on The One Show?

The Repair Shop's Will Kirk revealed he is hand-carving toys for his daughter's birthday present. (BBC)

The Repair Shops's Will Kirk was also a guest on the show. He revealed to hosts Alex Jones and Jermaine Jenas he has hand-carving toys for his daughter's birthday present.

The restoration expert has one daughter with wife Polly Snowdon, an educational psychologist. He recently posted on Instagram that he has been working on a "special project".

Jones asked if would reveal more and Kirk, 39, said: "She's going to be two in a couple of weeks so I'm currently hand carving loads of wooden animals for her birthday." When Jones that sounded "so special", Kirk joked: "I hope so, she'll probably be like, 'Where's my mobile phone?!' "

The One Show airs on BBC One at 7pm Monday to Friday.

For confidential emotional support contact The Samaritans at any time by calling 116 123 or emailing [email protected]

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