Former 'Strictly Come Dancing' finalist John Whaite is making profoundly honest statements today, November 17, 2025, about his struggles with addiction and severe mental health challenges.
He claims his recent sobriety and an official diagnosis were the reasons pulling him "out of the darkness." The chef and TV personality, who was runner-up in the 2021 series of 'Strictly', is giving a raw look into the personal emotional turmoil after his time on the show.
Whaite, 37, opened up about the high of the 'Strictly' experience, where he competed in the show’s first all-male partnership, and how that led to a crushing sense of emptiness afterward.
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He described the year following the finale as "really rocky," admitting he was drinking heavily for weeks and once woke up in his car in Manchester with a massive hangover.
He admits he was struggling with alcoholism, drug abuse, and bulimia during this period of his life.
Whaite, who was eight months sober, shares on his Instagram some posts about his use of steroids and the consequences he's facing, admitting he'll undergo treatment to get his hormones and his body back to normal.
The most important part was the revelation that led Whaite to the cause of a lot of afflictions.
He got an official ADHD diagnosis earlier this year, and he states that the diagnosis and subsequent medication have had a "positive impact" on his life and have dramatically curbed his destructive cycles.
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John Whaite was open about his years-long battle with bulimia, but he said that since starting ADHD medication, he has "not had one binge" episode.
He explained that the medication is often used to treat binge eating disorder due to the strong links between neurodivergence and disordered eating.
The star now believes he never truly suffered from depression, but rather "ADHD burnout."
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He explained that the hyper-focus and hyperactivity of his condition caused him to become so physically and emotionally exhausted he couldn't function, leading to a depressive state that just made his destructive habits worsen.
He states that he managed to pull himself out of those dark places with "nothing but the love of friends and good relationships."
John Whaite is again focusing on his health by quitting yet another damaging substance.
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