Heston Blumenthal has admitted that his kids weren’t shocked when he told them he was bipolar.
The chef, 58, who has been open about his mental health struggles, received a positive assessment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) back in 2017, before getting his bipolar diagnosis in May 2024.
He was admitted to a psychiatric hospital for 20 days in late 2023 after his current Melanie Ceysson expressed concerns about his wellbeing.
Heston has three children Jack, 31 – who is also a chef – Jessie and Joy with his ex-wife Zanna, whom he divorced in 2016.
He also has a six-year old child with his ex partner Stephanie Gouveia.
The owner of the Michelin-starred Fat Duck restaurant has now told The Times: ‘I was diagnosed with ADHD a few years ago and last year, when I told him about my bipolar disorder diagnosis, he just said to me, ‘Hello? You’re the last to know!’
Heston Blumenthal has admitted that his kids weren’t shocked when he told them he was bipolar (seen with chef son Jack, 31)
The chef, 58, who has been open about his mental health struggles, received a positive assessment of ADHD back in 2017, before getting his bipolar diagnosis in May 2024
‘I don’t think it came as a shock to any of my kids because they lived with me and have been used to me being hyper — hyper-excited and then frustrated, like a toddler. They know their dad probably better than I know myself.
His son Jack also spoke to the publication about his dad’d mental health struggles saying he was ‘proud’ of how he’s dealt with it.
He also admitted that the pair didn’t speak after a ‘falling out’ but when Jack had his daughter they reconnected.
Jack explained: ‘My daughter has been a blessing in terms of helping us to rekindle our relationship. I reached out and said, ‘Let’s get back to where we were.’ Things take time to heal but that’s what we did.’
Last July Heston was in tears as he bravely opened up about how his wife Melanie saved his life by admitting him to hospital under the Mental Health Act during his bipolar disorder battle.
He described the ordeal during an appearance on The One Show, going into detail about the ‘horrible’ situation that led to him to be diagnosed with the mental health condition last year.
Lifting the lid on what happened, he said: ‘As a chef I’ve been called everything from a culinary maverick to a genius. These ideas brought me incredible highs, but I also had some crashing lows.
‘These recurring highs to lows were getting stronger and stronger and more regular.
He was admitted to a psychiatric hospital for 20 days in late 2023 after his current Melanie Ceysson (seen) expressed concerns about his wellbeing
Heston has three children Jack, 31 (seen) – who is also a chef – Jessie and Joy with his ex-wife Zanna, whom he divorced in 2016
He said: ‘I was diagnosed with ADHD a few years ago and last year, when I told him (Jack) about my bipolar disorder diagnosis, he just said to me, ‘Hello? You’re the last to know!’
The chef has credited his first wife, Zanna, with bringing up their three children while he built his career and said previously that she was the ‘biggest reason’ for his success
‘I was on a massive high and had been for several days. I was having hallucinations, feelings of paranoia, and even suicidal thoughts.’
Heston admitted: ‘It was my wife Melanie who got me the help I needed after witnessing so many extremes in my behaviour.’
The Michelin-starred chef’s 36-year-old wife described her husband’s moods as a ‘tornado’ and worried that he was a danger to himself.
Recalling the moment she was forced to have him admitted to hospital, Melanie said: ‘It’s when I pushed the red button,’ adding that the aftermath was ‘the most horrible hours’ of her life.
Heston explained: ‘Melanie made the difficult decision to have me sectioned, which involved me being sedated.
‘There was a 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.’
Reflecting, he told Melanie: ‘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.’
The TV chef 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.
‘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.’
The celebrity cook is known for owning the Fat Duck in Bray, Berkshire, which has earned three-Michelin stars and has has previously been listed in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants.
Bipolar disorder, formerly known as manic depression, can cause people to have extreme mood swings.
It gives them episodes of depression – feeling very low and lethargic – and mania, feeling very high and overactive.
When he opened up about the diagnosis last May, he also credited his neurodivergence as playing a big role in the success of his business.
‘My most artistic, innovative and exciting work is because I am neurodivergent, which I describe as my superpower,’ he said.
Heston and entrepreneur Melanie tied the knot in March of 2023, in a picture-postcard village in Provence, the area that inspired Heston to become a chef.
The couple met while she was working at a hotel in Val-d’Isere, the ski resort in the French Alps and he was staying there for a Christmas holiday with his table-tennis coach.
Last July Heston was in tears as he bravely opened up about how his wife Melanie saved his life by admitting him to hospital under the Mental Health Act during his bipolar disorder battle
His last wedding was in 2018 with another French woman, Stephanie Gouveia, the mother of his youngest child.
The newlyweds later held a reception at their house nearby for around 60 guests, who included Blumenthal’s fellow TV chef Raymond Blanc, owner of the two Michelin-starred Oxfordshire restaurant Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons, former BBC director-general Lord Birt and Great British Menu judge Matthew Fort.
Guests were served a series of Blumenthal’s signature dishes from his restaurants, such as jelly of oyster and passion fruit, meat fruit, triple-cooked chips and Scotch eggs.