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Comedian Reflects on Fatherhood After Losing Dad to Suicide
15 Nov
Summary
- Comedian Darren Harriott's father died by suicide when Harriott was 11
- Harriott became older than his father was when he died, leading to reflection
- Harriott explores fatherhood and breaking cycles of bad dads in BBC Radio 4 series
In 2025, comedian Darren Harriott reached a significant milestone - he became older than his father was when he died by suicide at the age of 35. This realization has been "life-changing" for Harriott, who is now exploring the meaning of fatherhood and the desire to break cycles of bad parenting as part of a BBC Radio 4 series.
Harriott's father was a drug dealer and addict who was "in and out of prison" and struggled with severe mental health issues. The comedian, who is from Oldbury in the West Midlands, has said this background has "shaped his career, the way he thinks, and the way he is." Reflecting on his father's life and death has "hit him like a tonne of bricks."
Through the five-part series, Harriott talks to family, friends, psychologists, and campaigners as he grapples with the question of "can you break the cycle of bad dads." He describes the project as "the most thoughtful and deep thing" he has ever been a part of, as he navigates his own complex feelings about his father and the desire to avoid repeating the same patterns.
