About

In 1986 Tony Blair’s former official spokesman, Alastair Campbell, cracked up. The culmination of months of intensive stress at work, too much alcohol, and a myriad of complex issues, simply made his head explode. Though it is now 22 years ago, he remembers it as though it was yesterday, in intense and sometimes terrifying detail. Issues such as mental health affects a huge number of people, yet it’s a subject that still remains taboo in many instances. Alastair believes that talking about mental health issues reduces the stigmas associated with them. This one-off hour-long documentary was commissioned by BBC TWO as part of the BBC Headroom initiative to help people look after their mental well-being.

“He talks about it all with incredible honesty, and a refreshing matter-of-factness. That has to be applauded. He’s doing his bit - a considerable bit - to remove the fog of fear and hush that surrounds mental illness… He’s also very good, surprisingly good at describing it all.”
Sam Wollaston, The Guardian

An Liberty Bell production for BBC TWO
Episode available 1 x 60 minutes