Begin Again with Davina McCall

Richard Bacon: Headlines, Addiction & Love “I Wouldn’t Be Alive Without Her”

2026-08-06

What if your worst moment is actually your biggest gift? In this episode of Begin Again, broadcaster and television producer Richard Bacon joins Davina for a funny and deeply moving conversation about public failure, addiction, ADHD, love and building a new life after everything changes. Richard reflects on landing his dream job at Blue Peter, the betrayal by a close friend that turned his private life into a national headline, and what it felt like to lose everything so publicly at just 22 years old. He shares how...

What if your worst moment is actually your biggest gift?

In this episode of Begin Again, broadcaster and television producer Richard Bacon joins Davina for a funny and deeply moving conversation about public failure, addiction, ADHD, love and building a new life after everything changes.

Richard reflects on landing his dream job at Blue Peter, the betrayal by a close friend that turned his private life into a national headline, and what it felt like to lose everything so publicly at just 22 years old. He shares how unexpected people rallied around him, why the chaos that once got him into trouble later became one of his greatest strengths, and how he learned to keep moving forward when others believed his career was over.

Together, Richard and Davina explore his relationship with addiction, his ADHD diagnosis in his forties, and the relief of finally understanding the way his mind works. Richard explains how that diagnosis helped him make sense of both his scattered attention and extraordinary ability to hyperfocus, and why the qualities he once struggled with have become central to his creativity and success.

But this conversation is about much more than headlines.

Richard speaks movingly about his wife Rebecca, the excitement of falling in love, and the grounding force she has been throughout their marriage. He recalls being told by his doctor that he might not be alive without her, and the terrifying moment, one year later, when he was placed into a coma and his family were warned that he might not survive.

This is a conversation about love, public failure, second chances and finding the people who help you stay grounded when life becomes chaotic.

If you’ve ever felt defined by a mistake, struggled to understand your own mind, or wondered whether it’s possible to rebuild when life goes completely off script, this episode is for you.

✨ Discover Richard’s podcast, Why Are You More Successful Than Me:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/why-are-you-more-successful-than-me-with-richard-bacon/id1895025167 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WhyAreYouMoreSuccessfulThanMe

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6yWlm1mVITUj5DBDo15YAg

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(00:00) Intro
(01:14) Intro to Richard Bacon
(08:49) Richard's parents, their relationship, and his upbringing
(11:10) Fidning Broadcasting
(12:47) First job in live TV
(17:08) How Richard got banned from the State Opening of Parliament with Newsbunny
(20:09) Richard talks about some of the crazy shows he worked on early in his TV career
(21:36) Getting banned from McDonalds for life
(22:55) ADHD diagnosis in his 40s
(27:21) Meeting his Wifem Rebecca
(28:21) Monzo Ad
(29:23) Ancient & Brave Ad
(36:54) Landing Presenting Slot on Blue Peter
(42:49) The Scandal that got him Fired
(43:51) His Best Friend Leaking The Story To The Press
(48:40) Shopify Ad
(53:54) The Aftermath of Getting Fired
(58:16) Getting into Radio and deciding to move to LA
(01:05:50) Richard's near death experience and going into a coma
(01:07:28) Richard's relationship with alchohol
(01:11:02) What's next for Richard, how much he loves change