Lewis Capaldi addresses his mental breakdown at Isle of Wight festival
Lewis Capaldi said it's 'good to be back' as he addressed his breakdown while headlining the Isle of Wight festival.
The hitmaker's performance marked his first at Seaclose Park since his previous headline appearance in 2022.
Lewis took time off to focus on his mental health and to 'adjust to the impact' of his Tourette's diagnosis following his emotional set at Glastonbury festival in 2023.
Last year, he made a massive return to Glastonbury's iconic Pyramid Stage before embarking on a 17-date UK and Ireland arena tour.
On Friday, the singer delivered a hit-filled set at Seaclose Park, sharing the weekend's headlining slots with Calvin Harris and The Cure.
Speaking to the audience, Lewis said: 'It's good to be back by the way.
Lewis Capaldi said it's 'good to be back' as he addressed his breakdown while headlining the Isle of Wight festival on Friday
The hitmaker's performance marked his first at Seaclose Park since his previous headline appearance in 2022
'It's good to be here playing for you all. It's nice to be in front of you guys. Last time I was here was in 2022, I think this is the first festival I ever headlined.
'Then I released an album and after that, I sort of had what the kids are calling a complete and utter mental f*****g breakdown. A complete collapse of the mind.
'My mental is no longer broken down. I'm feeling good and I'm glad to be back with you all.
'Thank you for making it so I could take all that time off and still be able to come back and headline a festival and be in front of you all.
'It means a lot to me. To be doing this and not dreading being on stage, feeling comfortable and enjoying it, it really means a lot as well. Thanks.'
He continued: ‘I’m going to go away after the summer gigs for a while and make an album but it will be a short break I'll be back’
During his first performance at Glastonbury three years ago, Lewis was coming out of a three-week mental health hiatus he had taken to 'rest and recover'.
Returning to the stage, the singer admitted he had been 's**t scared' to perform as he opened up about his mental health struggles and battle against Tourette's.
Lewis previously announced he would be taking a break away from the spotlight for his mental health (pictured on stage at Glastonbury in 2023)
The neurological condition is characterised by a combination of involuntary noises and movements called tics, and can cause speech and voice abnormalities.
In the middle of his set, Lewis confessed that he was struggling with his Tourette's and said his voice had 'packed it in', after coughing throughout the show.
However, his supportive fans rallied around him, with the show coming to an heartwarming close as the supportive crowd sang out his hit Someone You Love at the top of their voices.
Lewis emotionally left the stage, saying: ‘Glastonbury, I’m really sorry. I’m a bit annoyed with myself’.
Afterwards, he announced he would be ‘taking a break for the foreseeable future’ as it was ‘obvious’ he needs to spend ‘much more time getting my mental and physical health in order’.
The hitmaker, who had been due to embark upon a world tour, explained he needed time to ‘adjust to the impact’ of living with Tourette’s, admitting it was ‘the most difficult [decision] of my life’.
Lewis had charted his struggles with the condition in a documentary How I’m Feeling now, which aired in April 2023, two months before his breakdown at Glastonbury.
But he has teased that he would be back with new music, sharing a New Year's Eve update in 2023 for fans where he said: 'I’m really happy to say I’ve noticed a marked improvement in both since I decided to take some time off back in June.
'For now I’m going to continue taking some time to carry on looking after myself, maybe writing some music and taking a moment to reflect on some of the most incredible years of my life.
'I want to make absolutely sure I’m 100% before getting back out there again properly for more shows and doing what I love more than anything!
'These songs mean the world to me and I’d be gutted if I’d not been able to share them. Hope this tides you all over until we can get in a room and sing them together some day very soon!”
Lewis also thanked fans for their support, saying their reaction has been 'nothing I’ve ever experienced and has made me more excited than ever to return to doing what I love at some point in the not too distant future'.
Lewis released his first album, Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent in 2019, followed by Broken by Desire to be Heavenly Sent in 2023, which debuted at No 1 with 95,000 sold, making it the fastest-selling album of the year.
WHAT IS TOURETTE'S SYNDROME?
Tourette's syndrome is a neurological condition characterised by a combination of involuntary noises and movements called tics.
It usually starts during childhood and continues into adulthood. Tics can be either be vocal or physical.
In many cases Tourette's syndrome runs in families and it's often associated with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Tourette's syndrome is named after the French doctor, Georges Gilles de la Tourette, who first described the syndrome and its symptoms in the 19th century.
There's no cure for Tourette's syndrome, but treatment can help to control the symptoms.
Source: NHS Choices
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
