The McFly star returns to the spinning red chair tonight for The Voice UK, but what about his life away from the cameras?
Tom Fletcher has spoken about his mental health over the years(Image: GETTY)
The Voice UK judge Tom Fletcher has opened up about his heartbreaking condition.
The 41-year-old McFly singer-songwriter and author will be back in the hot seat as a coach on ITV’s The Voice UK this evening (Saturday, August 22). However, what fans might not know is that the musician suffers from a mental health condition.
He previously told Fearne Cotton how the condition had affected him since childhood. Tom explained: “Ever since I was a child, I’ve always been highly emotional. I’d feel excited one moment, then the polar opposite the next. But I think everyone just thought that’s who I was.”
It was only later that Tom was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. According to the NHS : “Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition where you have extreme mood changes. Medicines and talking therapy can help manage it.”
Some of the main symptoms include high moods and low moods, which last a few days or weeks at a time. However, the NHS goes on to state that there are times when a person’s mood is stable, and they don’t have any symptoms for weeks, months or even years.
However, it wasn’t just mood swings that affected him, and he stopped eating, choosing to “just” drink coffee, saying it was “so unhealthy”. Tom also kept much of his mental health struggles from his wife, actress and podcaster Giovanna Fletcher.
The musician reflected that he was sure he was “a nightmare to be with” during his down periods. “Like many men, quite often I would hide it from the people I was closest to,” Tom said.
He has also explained to Mother and Baby in 2025 how he also suffered from depression as part of their Where’s Your Head At? campaign. Tom admitted he only realised he had depression after watching a Stephen Fry documentary back in 2011 and it moved him to tears.
Tom said: “I was at a particularly low point when I saw it, and it was that that made me reach out and go and speak to someone. It was a really defining moment of my life.” He went on to say he was now in a “really good place” and said the programme was “so important” for him and added: “That really changed my life.”
Since then, Tom has been going from success to success after he recently won a highly coveted Olivier Award in April in the Best New Musical category for Paddington: The Musical. He wrote the music and lyrics for the musical, which will make its Broadway debut in spring 2027.
Before then, Tom will be trying to find the next big pop star on The Voice UK. Alongside Tom, Black Eyed Peas star will.i.am, Sir Tom Jones and Danny Jones will be returning to the show.
Try ITVX Premium free for a week
ITVX Premium offers exclusive ad-free content that can be streamed on-demand and on the go, with everything from Hollywood blockbusters to bingeable British box sets.
An annual plan costs £59.99 – equal to £4.99 per month – after a seven-day free trial.
However, there will be a new face joining them this time, with Destiny’s Child legend Kelly Rowland also becoming a coach. This year, there will also be a big change with the Rewind button, which will allow the coaches to bring someone back after regretting letting them go the first time.
The Voice UK starts on ITV tonight at 7pm
If you are struggling with mental health, you can speak to a trained advisor from Mind mental health charity on 0300 123 3393 or email info@mind.org.uk . For help and support on eating disorders contact Beat Eating Disorders on 0808 801 0677