teenagers

He has opened up about his personal struggles after the horrifying incident

DJ and presenter Tyler West has revealed that, as a teenager, he witnessed a man getting stabbed to death – an incident which has had a “knock-on effect” on his mental health.

The 29-year-old from south London opened up about issues with “control” and the need to push himself out of his comfort zone while helping out with forest conservation on BBC One show Celebrity Race Across The World.

The Kiss FM DJ is appearing on this year’s show, which sees four celebrities and their loved ones look to complete a 3,670-mile race through Central America, alongside his girlfriend, EastEnders actress Molly Rainford.

Speaking to Rainford, he said: “I didn’t know this would be this much outside of my comfort zone. I always like to be in control of things, or know what I’m getting myself into.

“If I can control it, I feel like I can then look after the situation the best I possibly can.

“When I compare it to when I was a teenager, it was on another level.

“I was absolutely, like, petrified of witnessing something that was completely out of my control, and all I wanted to do was put a stop to it.

“You feel helpless, and I just don’t want to feel that ever in my life again.”

Later on in a confessional, he said: “I was coming home from school one day, and there was like these three men having an argument outside my house.

“One of the two men throw a really weak punch to the man that was on his own, and then one of the men had a 12-inch kitchen knife in his hand.

“All of a sudden, it was like me standing there at my bedroom window at 14 and just seeing this man get like stabbed to death.

“It was one of the most horrific moments of my life.

“I just remember being there at the Old Bailey, just being petrified of so many factors, like will all these people be able to see me? Will they know that I’m testifying? And I just didn’t really know how to process it, and it had such a knock on effect to my mental health. I was indoors for like two years.

“It matured me really quick, and it… it was just really hard.”

During Thursday’s episode of the reality competition programme, the celebrities were told they must fly to Liberia, Costa Rica, after permission to film in Nicaragua was not granted.

Derry Girls actor Dylan Llewellyn and his mother Jackie were the first to reach the checkpoint at Bocas del Toro in Panama, and were followed by radio presenter Roman Kemp and his sister Harley.

Third to the checkpoint was presenter Anita Rani and her father Bal, and they were followed by West and Rainford.

The dark comedy stars the former Doctor Who actor and it has viewers saying they’re ‘locked in’

Matt Smith is fronting a new dark comedy series adapted from a “compulsive read” which has proved a massive success since its debut episode.

The Death of Bunny Munro, shot on location throughout Sussex, is a dark comedy adaptation of Nick Cave’s novel sharing the same title.

The musician and author’s website describes the original book as “a compulsive read possessing all Nick Cave’s trademark horror and humanity, often thinly disguised in a galloping, playful romp”.

In The Death of Bunny Munro, the ex-Doctor Who actor portrays the titular role, a middle-aged salesman obsessed with sex who embarks on a journey across Sussex with his son following his wife’s death.

Whilst packed with black humour, the programme also delves into themes of bereavement and has drawn comparisons to programmes such as Netflix’s Adolescence.

Radio Times awarded it four out of five stars, stating: “Netflix’s Adolescence brought much-needed attention to the hateful attitudes emanating from a growing corner of the internet and taking root in the minds of today’s teenagers and young men.

“But the revelatory element of its story was less the misogyny itself and more so the method of transmission, with the web’s now-infamous ‘manosphere’ serving as a powerful amplifier for harmful ideas that had once appeared to be in decline.

“The Death of Bunny Munro almost serves as a prequel in that respect, exploring how the objectification, disrespect and outright abuse of women was taught to boys long before social media had the world in its death grip.”

The six-part series drops in its entirety, allowing viewers to watch all episodes back-to-back.

Social media users flocked to X, previously known as Twitter, to heap praise on Smith’s performance, with Lil Lulu writing: “#MattSmith you really have outdone yourself with Bunny Munro. Just superb. I love him and I hate him all at the same time. Give this man his flowers and give him ALL THE AWARDS!”

@drunkestgiraffe posted: “No in all honesty this is giving me emotional whiplash. It is gutting me and all I want is to help these poor souls but also WHY is he so HOT?

“I fully concur with Nick Cave he should NOT be this attractive. Put it away, Smith.”

Vid wrote: “Watched a half of episode one of Bunny Munro to see the vibe. Matt is so great as a despicable mf holy **** I can actually ******* kill him and the show’s kinda depressing and funny so far. Also truly heartbreaking son and wife, I’m locked in.”

Nana remarked: “I already love this mini-series.”

Rachel Louise declared: “Despite only having seen those first two episodes, I’m pretty confident in saying I think The Death of Bunny Munro is actually Matt Smith’s best role yet.”

The Death of Bunny Munro broadcasts on Sky Atlantic.