BBC Radio 5 presenter Gordon Smart has defended Prince Harry over his public discussions about grief, saying that while he disagrees with the Duke of Sussex on many issues, everyone is entitled to happiness. Smart, who also presents Morning Live, made the comments in an exclusive interview about his involvement in a new documentary-style film on male mental health.
Defending Harry's grief talks
Prince Harry has spoken at length about how the death of his mother, Princess Diana, has shaped him, and has often faced backlash over it. Smart said it is unfair to criticise the royal on that subject.
"It's interesting, isn't it? Mental health should be for everybody. Absolutely. I disagree with Prince Harry on a lot of things, but everybody is entitled to be happy," he said.
Reflecting on tabloid past
Smart, a former tabloid journalist at The Sun, also addressed the perception that he does not deserve a happy life after working for a tabloid paper. He recalled a joke his father made at one of his brothers' weddings: "Right, the big boy is a dentist. The middle boy is a journalist. We were fearful that the youngest would be a murderer."
He noted that people can be rude about unpopular professions, adding: "We need to get a little bit better at understanding that we are all human beings."
Men's mental health film
Smart is one of the participants in The New Bromantics, a short film executive-produced by Rizzle Kicks star Jordan Stephens. The film explores why many men still struggle to open up, show affection and seek support from those closest to them. Inspired by a conversation on the podcast Need to Talk with Paul C. Brunson, it is being launched to tie in with Movember.
The film asks real groups of male friends to recreate vintage photographs of men posing closely together a century ago, to challenge modern stigma and bravado.
Year-round mental health focus
Smart reflected on Movember's origins in prostate cancer awareness and its growth into a mental health charity, saying: "It shouldn't just be in November. It should be all year round." He also shared concerns about the effect of the "manosphere" on teenage boys, noting that he has a 16-year-old son and is always checking in with him.
He said he finds his 40s harder than any other stage of his life and has leaned on friends more in recent years. "I find that incredibly difficult, and I'm very lucky that I don't suffer from a lack of people to speak to," he said, adding that those without a supportive social circle really need help.
Smart also spoke about the ego and narcissism in his industry, saying he uses his platform to remind people that life is not always as easy as social media suggests. The New Bromantics can be watched on the Movember YouTube channel.
