Celebrity chef Tom Kerridge has revealed his son, Acey, has been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and that he himself received the same diagnosis, admitting he wishes he had known about his own condition earlier.
The Great British Menu star said learning he has ADHD has helped him better understand his past, including the struggles that contributed to his alcohol addiction, and believes it will help him guide his son.
Kerridge's Regret and New Understanding
Speaking to The Times about his son's diagnosis, Kerridge said: “The one thing I said to my wife is, I wish I’d known about myself earlier. It would then have been easier to understand what I went through as an adolescent. Why certain career paths just don’t work for people like me. Sitting still in an office was never going to work and my son is exactly like me. I think I can now help him have a clearer path of where he’s going.”
Kerridge, who grew up on a Gloucester housing estate and lost his father to multiple sclerosis when he was 18, went on to become one of Britain's best-known chefs. He trained under the late Gary Rhodes before building his Marlow pub, The Hand and Flowers, into the UK's first pub to earn two Michelin stars. He also runs The Coach and The Butcher's Tap and Grill in Marlow, along with Chalk Freehouse and Kerridge's Bar & Grill in London.
Past Struggles with Alcohol and Weight
The TV chef, 52, has previously spoken openly about the sacrifices he made during his rise to the top, as well as his battle with alcohol. Before giving up drinking aged 40, he said he could consume eight pints of lager, two cocktails and a bottle of gin in a single evening. Since becoming sober, he has lost 12 stone over five years.
Discussing his recent ADHD diagnosis, Kerridge said it had answered questions about his behaviour rather than changing who he is. He said: “Whether they realise it or not, I think a lot of successful chefs are neurodiverse, with some form of ADHD or autism. The ability to focus and find calm in the noise of a kitchen, that’s all part of it. Getting a diagnosis hasn’t changed anything; it’s just that now I understand why coffee and holding my head at a certain angle in the shower are so important to me. All these things help regulate my feelings.”
Finding Calm in Chaos
He also described how what seems chaotic to others actually helps him unwind. “My brain picks out elements of the two tracks and I find that very calming,” he said of listening to two high-intensity techno songs at the same time. “For me there’s a serenity in that. I need chaos!”
Elsewhere in the interview, Kerridge was asked whether ADHD was linked to his former drinking habits. Kerridge replied: "I loved the chaos of drinking but you're kind of right. Alcohol addiction comes from an incredibly selfish place. It's the one space where you escape into your own world. There isn't anything else that's happening. You're the only person who knows how you feel at that exact moment."
According to the NHS, ADHD is a condition where the brain works differently to most people and can affect concentration, impulse control and activity levels. Symptoms commonly include being easily distracted, struggling with organisation, restlessness and acting impulsively.
