Rob Beckett reveals battle with suicidal thoughts
Comedian Rob Beckett has revealed he contemplated suicide when he was "the unhappiest he's ever been" in early 2020.
In his upcoming autobiography A Class Act, the 35-year-old stand-up comedian has candidly written about his mental health struggles, revealing that he felt at his lowest in January 2020 while he shot a TV show in South Africa, despite his career and personal life surpassing his "wildest dreams".
"On January 4, 2020, I was nailing it. I had just flown into Cape Town, South Africa, in first class to film a TV show," he wrote in the book, reports The Sun. "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.
"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."
After he completed the show and returned home, Rob confessed his feelings to his wife Louise and his manager and went straight to see a therapist. He continued to see the professional every week for six weeks and still checks in "when I feel the darkness creep in".
"I am telling you this as I always promote the message that people should talk about mental health, but I rarely do," he continued. "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 funnyman added that he would have "fallen apart" if it weren't for the pandemic, which forced him to take some time off and "do something" about his mental health.
A Class Act will be released on Thursday.
