Seann Walsh: Why I Had to Get Sober to Start My Life Again

Begin Again with Davina McCall

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Thursday, 5 February 2026 - 1 hour 4 minutes

This is what it takes to begin again when you feel like you’ve lost everything.

In this powerful episode, comedian Seann Walsh opens up about the reality behind the laughs, his turbulent childhood, addiction, and public shaming, and how hitting rock bottom forced him to rebuild his entire life from scratch.

Seann shares how sobriety became the turning point that reconnected him with the version of himself he lost in the chaos: the ten-year-old boy who just wanted to make people laugh. He talks honestly about feeling like a failure at the height of success, the deep shame that followed and how he slowly found his way back, not to who he was, but to someone stronger.

From becoming a father to falling in love with Grace, Seann reveals the real moments that brought him peace, purpose, and a new path forward.

Whether you’re navigating addiction, public failure, or just trying to start over, this episode will show you what it really means to heal.

Seann Walsh will be on tour across the UK with his brand-new show This Is Torture from 13th February, with tickets on sale now at https://www.seannwalsh.com

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Follow Seann: https://www.instagram.com/seannwalsh/

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(00:00) INTRO

(02:15) Seann on His Chaotic Childhood and His Dad’s Heroin Addiction
(07:20) The Moment That Brought Seann and His Dad Together
(12:55) Seann on Family Dysfunction
(15:30) Seann on Setting Boundaries and Finding Sobriety
(19:36) How Comedy Liberated Seann From a Young Age
(22:25) Overcoming Expectations and Dealing with Feelings of Failure
(30:11) Lindt Chocolate Ad
(31:20) Airbnb Ad
(32:25) Seann on Moving Forward After Controversy
(36:02) Seann on Meeting Grace and the Proposal Story
(43:44) Seann on the Joy He Finds in Parenthood
(48:18) Seann on the Life-Changing Advice From His Father
(52:02) Seann’s Vision for the Next 10 Years
(54:53) A Special Letter From Grace

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