What happened in this episode?
Davina McCall interviews broadcaster and producer Richard Bacon about his early career, addiction, and family life, alongside a detailed account of a near-fatal illness. Bacon describes growing up in Nottinghamshire, his mother’s childhood burn injury, and later attending therapy with her in Los Angeles. He recounts breaking into radio and television via the Daily Mirror’s Live TV, describing stunts that resulted in bans from Parliament and a local McDonald’s.
Bacon revisits the cocaine scandal that led to his dismissal from BBC’s Blue Peter, alleging that a close friend secretly recorded a telephone call which later appeared in the News of the World. He says the public fallout reached the House of Commons and recalls support he received from figures including Chris Evans.
Later, Bacon discusses an ADHD diagnosis in his 40s, claiming a US clinic showed low prefrontal blood flow on a brain scan and linking it to stimulant-seeking and addiction. The most consequential section centres on his medical emergency: he describes hallucinating on a flight, being admitted to Lewisham Hospital, and being placed into a medically induced coma within minutes, saying his oxygen saturation dropped to a level clinicians associated with death or brain injury.
He also speaks about marriage to his wife Rebecca, relocation to Los Angeles and New York for US work, and ongoing efforts to manage alcohol use with specialist support and medication.
