Brief
Simon Pegg reveals ADHD diagnosis on podcast
The 56‑year‑old star said the diagnosis explained long‑standing struggles with focus, depression and drinking.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Simon Pegg disclosed on Thursday’s episode of the podcast I’m ADHD! No You’re Not that he has been formally diagnosed with attention‑deficit/hyperactivity disorder. The actor, 56, said the assessment "confirmed a lot of stuff that I’d been wrestling with" and clarified that he sought the diagnosis simply "just wanted to know".
Pegg explained that he had previously attributed many of his challenges – bouts of clinical depression since age 18 and difficulty controlling his drinking – to character flaws rather than an underlying condition. He added that learning about his ADHD helped put his childhood behaviour in perspective, noting that he "did feel different in a way I might not be able to put my finger on" and recalling early fidgeting that now seems consistent with the disorder.
The actor described his wife’s reaction as supportive, saying she is "dealing with it as if I’d been diagnosed ages ago" and makes allowances for his forgetfulness and lack of concentration. Later in the show, Pegg spoke with hosts Paul Whitehouse and Dr Mine Conkbayir about why he began discussing mental health publicly, recalling that he first opened up in 2018 after making a film about schizophrenia.
The podcast airs at 6 a.m. every Thursday on all major platforms.
Key facts
- Simon Pegg was diagnosed with ADHD. (independent.co.uk)
- He discussed the diagnosis on the podcast I’m ADHD! No You’re Not. (independent.co.uk)
- Pegg said the diagnosis explained long‑standing depression and drinking issues. (independent.co.uk)
- His wife is supportive and treats the condition as if it were long‑standing. (independent.co.uk)
- The podcast episode aired on 8 October 2026. (independent.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] independent.co.uk — originally reported as “Simon Pegg confirms life-changing diagnosis: ‘It’s just who I am’”
