New Heston Blumenthal documentary coming to BBC

A new documentary focused around celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal’s bipolar diagnosis is set to be aired on the BBC next month.

Heston: My Life with Bipolar, an hour-long special, airs on Thursday, June 19.

Visionary chef Heston, whose portfolio includes three-Michelin-starred The Fat Duck in Bray, says his life changed when he received his diagnosis.

“I’m delighted to confirm that I’ve been hard at work on a new documentary for the BBC, which explores in depth my bipolar diagnosis – how it presented, how it impacts my life, how I deal with it,” Heston said, in a statement released via Instagram.

“But it’s not just about me, it also looks at the state of bipolar care in the UK and what we can do to better help those living with the condition and those who support them.

“It’s revealing, fly-on-the-wall stuff.

“The crew has been up close and personal, interviewing all my nearest and dearest, and following me as I interview others about the condition.

“As with everything I do, whether it’s cooking, science or education, it will be honest and hard-hitting and, hopefully, bring inspiration and understanding.

“It has been a real journey of discovery for me, and I think it will be for you too.”

Heston's bipolar journey

The film explains how Heston started experiencing hallucinations and suicidal thoughts in 2023, with behaviour so extreme he was sectioned.

Following a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, Heston started taking medication that would keep him alive but sap his energy and, he feared, extinguish his creativity.

Filmed over six months, the documentary follows Heston in the aftermath of his diagnosis as he tries to understand the role bipolar played in his success and the impact it had on the people he loves.

 

 

 

 

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Heston added: “I was living with undiagnosed bipolar for many years, so it’s been an extraordinary journey to get where I am today.

“There is still a big stigma around bipolar but it is vital to be able to talk openly about the condition.

“I know this isn’t always easy, but I hope by sharing my experience in this documentary, people will gain a greater understanding of bipolar and an insight into my life now.”

Heston Blumenthal: a visionary chef

Heston pioneered the culinary technique of molecular gastronomy, emphasising the relationship between scientific experimentation and great tasting food. Heston specifically focuses on the multisensory perception and how the brain influences our appreciation of what we eat.

His signature techniques include the use of liquid nitrogen to ‘cook’ food or to disperse aromas during service; ice filtration to produce crystal-clear stocks and consommés; and the sous-vide technique, which Heston was the first to introduce into British professional kitchens.

In 1982, when he was 16, Heston discovered that he wanted to be a chef after he and his family went to three-star restaurant, L’Oustau de la Baumaniere, in the French Provence.

However it took Heston more than a decade to realise this dream, after training himself in classical French cuisine.