A Place in the Sun presenter Leah Charles-King has bravely spoken about her bipolar diagnosis as she works to break the stigma surrounding it. The property expert, who joined the Channel 4 show in 2021, has also revealed her past as a pop star in the 90s R&B-pop girl band Kleshay.
Leah Charles-King's Popstar Past
Leah, born and living in London, was part of Kleshay with two of her cousins. The all-female trio achieved two top 40 hits and supported Lionel Richie on tour. She also sang backing vocals for George Michael and Andrea Bocelli. Her time in the spotlight began as a child, appearing in Billy Ocean's 'Get Outta My Dreams, Get in My Car' video and in children's TV programmes with Floella Benjamin and the late Barbara Windsor. In 2001, she became the first Black female Continuity Presenter on CITV and has since worked for the BBC, ITV, The Disney Channel, and radio.
Bipolar Diagnosis and Advocacy
Leah has openly discussed her bipolar diagnosis to raise awareness and end stigma. After joining A Place in the Sun, she said: “I hid it for nine years, because I thought prospective employers would think I’d be a liability, but now I am an Ambassador for Bipolar UK and talk openly about my condition in the media.” She added, “I’ve had highs and lows over the years and would often run to St Lucia when I was having a tough time, where my late grandmother would be a huge help and support. But presenting is the best medicine for me; it was being overlooked within the industry, or not having work, that was often a trigger for my low mood. Different routines on location can make it tricky, so having a good night’s sleep is vital for my mental well-being.” She continued, “Landing this job stands for so much more than just an average gig; for me, it’s about having faith and not allowing bipolar to be an obstacle.”
Personal Struggles and Recovery
In a 2024 social media post, she wrote: “It was so dark I didn’t think I’d make it through. More than once, I almost gave up. But I’m still here. Healing isn’t easy, but it is possible. If you’re struggling, know that brighter days can & WILL come - even when you can’t see them. HOLD ON.” She previously told The Mirror: "I'd been estranged from my family due to my behaviour, my symptoms were exacerbated. They didn't know I had bipolar, I didn't know I had bipolar, my GP didn't know I had bipolar. I felt like I was knocking on many doors and constantly being told it was 'in my head' or 'I was depressed', and I kept being put on antidepressants, but that induced a manic phase that I was in for a year. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. I was in a lot of danger. I was putting myself in very bad situations. My family just thought I was out of control and rude and boisterous." After her diagnosis, it took years to rebuild family relationships. She added: "It's night and day, right now I don't just survive with this condition, I thrive with it. I can thrive in spite of it, and who would I be without it? It's me, it's interwoven in me, but it's not who I am. It's there in the background, I call it my sleeping dragon. Sometimes she rears her head, and the fire comes out; sometimes you might get burnt fingers, but we always reign her back in. That's the beauty of having the medication, the therapy, the support."
Impact of A Place in the Sun
She credited A Place in the Sun with helping her heal, telling The Express: "The show's been completely life-changing for me. For somebody who's been in TV for a long time and felt I was very overlooked for many years, I'd just been waiting for that break. [Before it was] like being invited to the party, but you're not allowed to sit at the table." A Place in the Sun airs weekdays from 3pm on Channel 4.
