‘Felt very low’! Gyles Brandreth admits he sought therapy after quadruple death tragedy
Gyles Brandreth has revealed how he overcame his departure from politics (Image: ITV)
Gyles Brandreth has opened up about his therapy journey after enduring a tragic quadruple death tragedy in the late 1990s. The former Tory MP shot to prominence in 1980 when he entered politics. He served in the party from 1992 to 1997, representing the city of Chester.
But things took a turn for the worse when the presenter lost his seat. Now, the 78-year-old TV personality has opened up about that difficult period of time in an interview with SAGA magazine.
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The This Morning star sought therapy before he turned his life around (Image: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
He told the outlet: “I was a Conservative MP in the 1990s, and when I lost my seat in 1997, I felt very low. People say you shouldn’t take it personally, but of course you do. I felt a real sense of rejection.
“It had been a difficult time anyway. My father had died, as had my best friend from school, the actor Simon Cadell. I’d also lost siblings – my brother died at 51, and one of my sisters at 61.
“In the end, I decided to see a psychiatrist. I’d heard one on the radio called Dr Anthony Clare, and I flew off to Dublin to see him. He changed my life.” Since then, the Countdown star has gone from strength to strength as a broadcaster on the box.
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He regularly makes appearances on This Morning, Good Morning Britain and the Channel 4 quiz show. Mr Brandreth went on to share how he transformed his life after seeking therapy, admitting he doesn’t drink alcohol and follows a low-carb diet.
Gyles admitted: “I also feel very lucky that I’m still working and meeting interesting people. That’s vital for wellbeing.” It comes after the This Morning star revealed that his grandson Kitt was diagnosed with rare cancer rhabdomyosarcoma at 15 months old and has been in remission for eight years.
The podcast presenter was devastated when Kitt received his diagnosis in April 2017, following his parents’ discovery of a pea-sized lump near his tummy during a nappy change. His daughter and her husband were initially reassured by their GP that the lump was probably a cyst or hernia, yet medical examinations confirmed that Kitt had cancer.
Fewer than 60 youngsters receive this soft tissue sarcoma diagnosis across the UK annually. Kit underwent treatment at Great Ormond Street Hospital, enduring chemotherapy that resulted in hair loss, alongside multiple blood and platelet transfusions.
