Josh Widdicombe has revealed that he always struggled with drinking as he opened up about his ‘unhealthy relationship’ with alcohol and his subsequent breakdown.
The comedian, 41, confessed in a new interview on Wednesday with The Times that he has always thrown himself in to his hobbies and passions and he took the same approach with drinking.
The Last Leg presenter also admitted that it took him years to realise he had an issue with alcohol because he didn’t drink every day.
Yet things soon came to a head when he suffered a breakdown in 2022 while trying to manage his alcohol problem, stress and parenting.
Reflecting on his struggles, Josh told the publication that he would often drink to excess, throwing up and blacking out.
He said: ‘I’ve always had a very unhealthy relationship with alcohol.’
Josh Widdicombe has revealed that he always struggled with drinking as he opened up about his ‘unhealthy relationship’ with alcohol and his subsequent breakdown
Josh revealed he collapsed while struggling with alcohol problems, stress and parenting and has opened up about his 2022 breakdown (pictured with his wife Rose Hanson and daughter, November, 2022)
The star went on to say that because he didn’t drink too much every single day, he thought he was fine.
He said: ‘I didn’t do it every day so it took me ages to realise I had a problem.’
It was only when it started to impact his parenting that he knew something had to change.
Josh explained he didn’t want to be an absent father and he was concerned that his drinking might be starting to do that but was worried about keeping up his career momentum.
The star shares two children with wife Rose Hanson, daughter, Pearl, seven, and son, Cassius, three.
The QI panellist said: ‘I never wanted to be an absent dad. And yet I didn’t want to let my career slide either.
‘So I piled even more pressure on myself. Everything was pressure. Eventually I just kind of collapsed.’
Detailing his breakdown, he said: ‘It was just overwork, burnout, leading to depression and anxiety … And I was funnier being more honest. If I talk about closing my eyes and not being able to sleep because I am having an anxiety attack, that’s funny.’
The Last Leg presenter also admitted that it took him years to realise he had an issue with alcohol because he didn’t drink every day
In a bid to process his struggles with alcohol, he has begun to write about it, although he is not sure yet whether he is ready to share it with the world.
Josh has previously opened up about his struggles with alcohol and earlier this year took to Instagram to celebrate more than a year of sobriety.
The comedian revealed he was enjoying life more since eschewing drinking and found going to weddings, parties, concerts and festivals could all be just as pleasant without a drink in his hand.
He added that it has also made him a better father and he is no longer as irritable with his family or even waking up worried about what he did or said the night before.
The father-of-two went on to tell his followers that drinking in moderation was never his skill set and he often found himself wanting ten more glasses of wine after his first.
Alongside a picture of a mug of tea with the message ‘Everything is good’ on it, he joked that the only down side of sobriety was that he no longer enjoyed going to Ibiza.
Josh’a full caption on Instagram read: ‘As of last week I’ve not had a drink in over a year. Spent the last week wondering if I am the kind of insufferable prick that posts about it on Instagram with a “read more” post, turns out I am.
It was only when it started to impact his parenting that he knew something had to change. Josh shares two children with his wife Rose (pictured in July, 2024)
Josh has previously opened up about his struggles with alcohol and earlier this year took to Instagram to celebrate more than a year of sobriety
‘Been an absolute joy for most of the year, here’s some highs:
‘- doing things I thought I needed alcohol to enjoy and actually enjoying them more: seeing bands, weddings, Glastonbury
‘- Being a far less irritable/irritating dad, husband and person to do a podcast with.
‘- Not spending days desperate to go back to bed or waking up with a sense of shame (as much)
‘- Remembering the second half of Christmas Day
‘- Really getting into tea
‘Negatives:
‘- Ibiza was probably a step too far
‘I tried for years to drink in moderation but it was never in my skill set, so I don’t miss a glass of wine with lunch or dinner as I have never had that in my life without wanting to have ten more.
‘If you are looking to stop drinking my advice to chat to people you know that have stopped about how they did it, that is what I did. If you don’t want to stop drinking then can I recommend Ibiza.’
For help with alcohol problems contact AA on 0800 917 7650 or email the helpline at help@aamail.org
