Rob Beckett details “suicidal thoughts”, says “all comedians are broken”

Comedian Rob Beckett has opened up about his past experience with “suicidal thoughts”, arguing that he believes “all comedians are broken”.

The stand-up and presenter, known for his appearances on 8 Out Of 10 Cats, Mock The Week and Taskmaster, has spoken candidly in a new interview with The Guardian about his mental health struggles, and how it has interacted with his career.

Describing how he directed his insecurities into an inspiring force to pursue his stand-up work, he said: “It was a toxic fuel. Effective, like chucking petrol on a bonfire, but unsustainable.”

Beckett, who was named as the sixth richest comedian in the UK in July, and who also hosts the spin-off show I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! Now!, added that even when success came his way, the negative thoughts continued.

“I had all the markers of a successful person,” he said. “But I was having suicidal thoughts.”

He made clear that he did not attempt to act on the thoughts, and instead underwent six months of intensive therapy, at the behest of his agent. As COVID-19 hit, he had come to the conclusion that he was living with “what was basically a low-level anxiety disorder, poverty mindset and impostor syndrome”.

Beckett added that he was of the opinion that “all comedians are broken” in some way, because “there’s got to be something wrong that drives us to achieve”.

The comedian also co-hosts the podcast Parenting Hell with fellow stand-up Josh Widdicombe. One of their potential upcoming guests could be Joe Lycett, who said that he “can’t get out of going on” the show now that he has announced he has become a father to a new baby boy.

Beckett has co-hosted the BAFTA Television Awards for the last two years alongside Romesh Ranganathan, and the two also host the series Rob & Romesh vs… on Sky.

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