Jordan Stephens will get candid about surviving ‘brutal patterns of self-harm, hedonism and heartbreak’ in an upcoming book.
The Rizzle Kicks star, 32, is also set to open up about living with concentration condition attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, ADHD.
The book, which will be published by Canongate in August, will also explore Jordan’s journey through ‘the stereotypes of gender’.
The hip hop musician will dig into ‘fear, tenderness and trauma’ as part of his first non-fiction offering, titled Avoidance, Drugs, Heartbreak And Dogs.
Jordan – who is in a relationship with Little Mix star Jade Thirlwall – has previously been open about experiencing anxiety, as well as struggling with drink and drugs.
Jordan Stephens, 32, will get candid about surviving ‘brutal patterns of self-harm, hedonism and heartbreak’ in an upcoming book titled Avoidance, Drugs, Heartbreak And Dogs
The Rizzle Kicks star is also set to open up about living with concentration condition attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, ADHD, in the book
Speaking about his upcoming book, Jordan said: ‘(This is the) hardest thing I’ve ever done, but I’m glad I have. I’ve written what I wished there was more of.
‘The dream is for the words to outlive me. Thank you to my agents and Canongate for getting on board with the way I wanted to write and encouraging it.’
His new book asks if ‘love is claustrophobic and conflicting’ and if we have been chasing ‘addictions to drugs, drink, sex and chaos’.
Publisher Canongate said: ‘Stephens found his teens and twenties a whirl of career success and nurturing friendships but also a brutal pattern of self-harm, hedonism, destructive coping mechanisms and heartbreak.
The book promises to dig ‘into the fear, tenderness and trauma he carried in his body and mind, and the confusing assumptions of what a young man should be’ before discovering what it means to be a man.
Rights were bought by Canongate editor-at-large Francis Bickmore from United Agents following a ‘heated auction’, said the publisher.
Mr Bickmore said: ‘Jordan writes with his heart on his sleeve and his sights set on the full unguarded truth. Written with electrifying style and unflinching candour, this is one man’s journey through the stereotypes of gender and the superpowers and super-perils of living with ADHD.
‘This is a welcome addition to the canon of memoirs exploring how to stay sane in a maddening world. Fasten your seatbelts, Jordan pulls no punches.’
TV rights were sold to production company Watford & Essex, which was launched in 2020 by Emma Frost and Matthew Graham – who have been involved in projects such as period drama The White Queen and time travelling show Life On Mars, respectively.
The Skip To The Good Bit hitmaker Jordan is one of half of duo Rizzle Kicks along with Harley ‘Sylvester’ Alexander-Sule.
They had a number one song Heart Skips A Beat, also featuring Olly Murs, along with hits When I Was A Youngster, Mama Do The Hump and Down With The Trumpets.
Jordan also co-founded the I Am Whole mental health movement, which led to a Channel 4 special involving musicians Kojey Radical, Arlo Parks and Che Lingo and held a Roundhouse event for the campaign which saw performances from Ed Sheeran.
Jordan has previously released the illustrated book The Missing Piece, with illustrator Beth Suzanna, which was nominated for a Waterstones Children’s Book Prize award
Avoidance, Drugs, Heartbreak And Dogs will be published in August.
