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Tom Kerridge says 'I wish I'd known earlier' as son diagnosed with same condition

Tom Kerridge has opened up about a family health diagnosis that has left him reflecting on his own life and career

[LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 30: Tom Kerridge speaks during Pub In The Park 2025 at Gunnersbury Park on May 30, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Dave Benett/Getty Images)]

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Tom once confessed that drinking served as an "escape"(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images)

Celebrity chef Tom Kerridge has revealed his son has been diagnosed with ADHD, admitting that he wishes he'd known about himself earlier after receiving the same diagnosis.

The Great British Menu star said learning that he has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (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, Acey.

Speaking to The Times about his son's diagnosis, Kerridge said: The one thing I said to my wife is, I wish Id known about myself earlier. It would then have been easier to understand what I went through as an adolescent. Why certain career paths just dont 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 hes 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.

[Tom Kerridge]

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Tom Kerridge(Image: BBC/Optomen Television/Ashleigh Brown)

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, thats all part of it. Getting a diagnosis hasnt changed anything; its 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.

[Tom Kerridge]

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Tom Kerridge(Image: BBC/Bone Soup Productions)

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 theres 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.

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