BBC comedian Tony Slattery unrecognizable as he returns to stage after £4,000-a-week drug addiction

Comedy style Tony Slattery made a triumphant return to the show circuit in May after an extended hiatus.

Acclaimed for his first comedy since the late 80s, he was adored by fans of Whose Line Is It Anyway? and other hilarious TV roles. The 64-year-old put on a tickling show at The Wro Bar and Loft in West Kirby, Wirral, cleverly christening it ‘Tony Slattery Resuscitated’, apparently in recognition of his time away from the limelight.

Howls of laughter hadn’t been heard for him on stage since about 2014, before this show in May. Slattery enjoyed unparalleled popularity in the late 80s and 90s until life began to crumble around him in the mid-1990s. Outspoken about his personal struggles, including substance abuse and heavy drinking, he did not makes no secret of his darker days.

Accounts put his weekly cocaine spending at £4,000 in the grip of addiction. Slattery himself testified that while he did not remember the exact amount, he “wouldn’t be surprised” if this large figure was accurate. In 1996, when Slattery withdrew from the world for half a year, a life-changing turning point occurred, effectively becoming a hermit, ignoring unanswered phone calls and knocks. It was only when a concerned friend forced his way into his residence that he agreed to seek medical attention, leading to a diagnosis of bipolar disorder.

In a candid revelation, he detailed this crisis in the 2006 documentary The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive, hosted by Stephen Fry. Keeping a low profile since then, he notably avoided television interviews from 2005 until recently in 2020, making an appearance on ‘This Morning’.

A BBC documentary profiled the comedian in 2020, titled “Whatever Happened To Tony Slattery?”. The show explored his struggles with substance abuse and bipolar disorder. Through his ups and downs, Tony’s partner Mark Hutchinson has stood by his side. They have been a couple since 1986 and live together in London.

Speaking about his career to the Wirral Globe in May, Tony said: “I did a lot of terrible things, like drinking and doing drugs, which were really low points for me. But there were many highlights. I loved being part of films like Peter’s Friends with Stephen Fry and Emma Thompson and I was in The Crying Game.”

*Frank offers confidential advice on drugs and addiction (email [email protected], text 82111 or call 0300 123 6600) or the NHS has information about getting help.

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