Television personality Gyles Brandreth has spoken candidly about his sister's severe alcohol addiction during an emotional appearance on ITV's This Morning.
The moment reality hit home
Brandreth revealed to hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard that his sister Hester had to hit rock bottom before she would accept help from Alcoholics Anonymous. The discussion emerged while talking about the Princess of Wales' new initiative to reduce stigma around addiction.
"The more we talk about it, the better it is," Gyles shared. "That prompts me to talk about my sister who was basically saved by Alcoholics Anonymous. She wasn't able to join Alcoholics Anonymous until she hit rock bottom."
Family's struggle with hidden addiction
When Cat Deeley asked if he had been aware of his sister's addiction, Brandreth admitted it was sort of hidden from the family initially. He recalled the specific moment when he and his wife Michelle became concerned.
"We first became conscious of it when she used to babysit our children when they were very small," he explained. "Michelle, my wife, came back and said 'She smells of alcohol again and she's looking after the children.'"
Brandreth described how his sister's life began to deteriorate, noting that none of us knew what to do to help her at the time.
Road to recovery and lasting impact
The turning point came when Hester's life completely collapsed, forcing her to confront her addiction. "Then she found AA," Brandreth said, emphasising that the organisation ultimately saved her.
He has since introduced many friends to the programme, though he clarified that his own decision to stop drinking alcohol in 1997 was for weight loss reasons rather than directly because of his sister's struggles.
Brandreth shared that Hester had experienced poor mental health throughout her life, frequently attending the Tavistock Centre, which their family affectionately called "the Tavvy."
Thanks to Alcoholics Anonymous, Hester eventually found happiness and purpose. AA allowed her to become a leaf on a tree, Brandreth told The Telegraph, describing how the programme connected her to something larger than herself.
He remembered his sister as his heroine before her death from cancer at age 60.
If you are struggling with alcohol abuse or addiction, advice and support can be found at alcoholchange.org.uk
