BBC Gladiators star Rob Beckett's secret health struggle that nearly ended in tragedy

Comedian and presenter Rob Beckett is taking part in the celebrity special of Gladiators. But away from the cameras, Rob has experienced some tough moments

Rob Beckett will take part in Celebrity Gladiators but while the comedian is riding high in his career he has been open about experiencing difficulties along the way.

Rob, 39, married long term girlfriend Louise Watts in 2015. The couple met in their early twenties and the star told the Daily Mail the history teacher had "paid all the bills for three years when I was earning no money as a comedian". The couple have two young daughters and Rob calls parenting the 'best thing I have ever done'.

He told the Guardian: "When your daughter snuggles up to you on the sofa to watch telly, that's ­better than a promotion or the smell of a new car. That's the real stuff, not your status in society." The versatile star, who presented the spin off show of ITV's I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! and narrated E4'S Celebs Go Dating, presents parenting podcast Parenting Hell with fellow comedian Josh Widdecombe.

The show began in lockdown and became so popular the duo went on a live tour. "I love my kids to pieces and try my best but sometimes I'm rubbish at it," Rob told the BBC in a candid chat about parenting. "And that's life. And if you don't accept you're rubbish at it sometimes, you'll never get better."

While the presenter has a happy family life in South East London and enjoys a very successful career he has experienced hard times too. "On January 4, 2020, I was nailing it," he wrote in his autobiography A Class Act. "I had just flown into Cape Town, South Africa, in first class to film a TV show. The show was watching cricket, drinking beer and going on safari with one of my best mates AND ­getting paid. This filming was squeezed in ­during a nationwide sell-out tour.

"Happily married to the love of my life, with two kids in a family home newly renovated, I had surpassed my wildest dreams," continued the star. "But I was the unhappiest I have ever been. I woke up on January 5 in a five-star hotel room thinking it would be better and easier for ­everyone if I was dead."

Rob, who is also known for hit panel shows including Mock The Week and 8 Out Of 10 Cats, told his wife and his manager how he felt when he returned to the UK and saw a therapist for six months. He still has refresher sessions when he feels 'the darkness creep in'.

Opening up to help others feel less alone, Rob writes in his book: "I am telling you this as I always promote the message that people should talk about mental health, but I rarely do. So here I am, talking. I wanted to die when I had everything I ever wanted. So never judge yourself for feeling low. Tell someone and they will help you feel better."

The funny man says the pandemic gave him time to recover and reflect. As his podcast took off, he bagged an acting role in huge Disney film Cinderella too, alongside singer-songwriter Camila Cabello and Hollywood actress Idina Menzel. "That would have killed me before I sorted my head out," he said. "But it was one of the first jobs after the pandemic I took on when I wasn't being driven by fear — and I loved it."

The former market stall trader talks about how his working class roots led him to experience imposter syndrome in his comedy career, with the TV comedy circuit known to be very middle class. The star was once invited to a party at Jimmy Carr's London home, where A list invitees included Sir Elton John, Kourtney Kardashian and Jonathan Ross. Not wanting to arrive empty handed at the Mexican-themed bash, he brought eight cans of Heineken and a bottle of tequila in a carrier bag.

"I walked in with this big blue bag and thought: 'F***, I know this isn't the right thing to bring, but I can't ditch it now, they've seen it'," said Rob of arriving at Jimmy's mansion. "So I just owned the moment and it was an open goal for Jimmy and Elton, me bowling in with a bag from the offie."

If you are struggling with your mental health and need support, contact Mind on 0300 123 3393 or info@mind.org.uk

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