An estimated 1.3 million people in the UK live with bipolar disorder, a number surpassing those affected by dementia. Despite this prevalence, the condition often remains a taboo subject, largely undiscussed in society. This societal silence meant that when celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal began experiencing severe manic episodes several years ago, the thought of bipolar disorder never crossed his mind, even though he suspected he was neurodivergent. He describes his prior ignorance as profound, a stark contrast to the gripping and grueling reality explored in the documentary “Heston: My Life with Bipolar” (BBC Two, Thursday 8pm).

The severity of his episodes escalated dramatically, culminating in a terrifying hallucination in late 2023 in France, where he resides with his wife, entrepreneur Melanie Ceysson. He vividly recalls the moment he hallucinated having a gun, desperately trying to fight his way out of the experience while being restrained. The memory of a doctor preparing a large syringe marks the turning point in his struggle. Eighteen months later, Blumenthal is on a substantial medication regimen, which, while leading to weight gain and a meditative slowing of his speech, has successfully stabilized his extreme mood and energy shifts—a hallmark of bipolar disorder.

However, his journey is not simply one of a happy ending. A central theme of the documentary is Blumenthal’s profound fear that the very drugs providing him mental stability may have extinguished the creative spark that fueled his illustrious early career. Food enthusiasts will remember Blumenthal as a pioneer at The Fat Duck restaurant in Bray, celebrated for his avant-garde,