Tom Fletcher, known for his role in the band McFly, has openly shared his battle with a serious mental health condition. Today, he makes his debut as a coach on The Voice UK, alongside his bandmate Danny Jones. This marks the first time the ITV show features a pair in the iconic red chairs.
Fletcher, 39, rose to fame in 2004 with McFly. Before joining McFly, he auditioned for the band Busted but was not selected. Busted chose Charlie Simpson, and the band remained a trio rather than expanding to four members.
Fletcher later became involved in songwriting for Busted before establishing his career with McFly. Despite his success, he has been open about his long-standing struggles with mental health issues, which have affected him since childhood.
In a heartfelt interview with Fearne Cotton, Fletcher described his experiences: “I’ve always been highly emotional since I was a child. My feelings would swing from one extreme to the other. People thought it was just part of who I was.”
He was eventually diagnosed with bipolar disorder, a condition marked by severe mood swings. Fletcher also faced additional challenges, including issues with his weight. He revealed that during a period of fame, he stopped eating and relied solely on coffee. He admitted, “It was so unhealthy.”
Fletcher also shared his struggles with depressive episodes and how he often hid his feelings from his wife, Giovanna. “Like many men, I would often conceal my issues from those closest to me,” he said.
In late 2011, Fletcher watched a documentary by Stephen Fry titled The Secret Life Of The Manic Depressive. Fry’s account of bipolar disorder resonated deeply with Fletcher, who said, “I just cried. It sounded exactly like me.”
Fletcher sought therapy and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. He confessed, “I had never considered it a definable mental health condition before, but speaking to a therapist was a turning point.”
When he shared his diagnosis with his friend Harry, the response was understanding: “Ahhh, that makes so much sense,” Harry said.
Fletcher believes that openness about mental health is crucial. “More people are talking about their mental health now, and there is no shame in it,” he noted.
