Jack Whitehall looking in front
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‘It’s not something I’ve seen other men talk about’: Jack Whitehall on heartbreaking hidden health battle

'It's not something that I've ever really spoken about'

Comedian and presenter Jack Whitehall, who is appearing on The Jonathan Ross Show tonight (February 21), previously opened up about his past struggle with bulimia.

The 37-year-old, who will be hosting this year’s BRIT Awards next Saturday (February 28), suffered with the disorder during the early days of his television career.

Jack Whitehall looking in front
Jack Whitehall revealed his secret health battle last year (Credit: BBC)

Jack Whitehall on secret health battle

In 2025, Jack revealed he had kept his health battle a secret for a long time.

However, during Freddie Flintoff’s Disney+ biographical film, Jack had the confidence to open up about his own struggles after the former Top Gear star had been open about his own experience with bulimia a few years prior.

Speaking on the doc, Jack said: “I was bulimic when I first started doing television, it’s not something that I’ve ever really spoken about.

“But I remember that pressure of being on television. And it’s not something that I’ve seen other men or people in the media talk about, until Fred came out and spoke about it.

“I just remember thinking that was incredibly brave of him.”

Jack Whitehall and Freddie Flintoff walking
Freddie helped Jack open up (Credit: Splashnews.com)

‘I became known as a fat cricketer’

In 2020, former cricketer turned television presenter Freddie starred in a BBC documentary titled Freddie Flintoff: Living with Bulimia, in which he opened up about his battle with the eating disorder during the early years of his career, when scrutiny over his weight intensified.

Flintoff revealed that he forced himself to vomit while playing for the England cricket team during their historic 2005 Ashes triumph. It was the team’s first The Ashes series win in 18 years.

 “I became known as a fat cricketer. That was horrible,” he said.

“That was when I started doing it, that was when I started being sick after meals. Then things started happening for me as a player.”

Read more: ‘Don’t ignore the warning signs!’ Julia Bradbury issues plea as she shares worrying health update following breast cancer diagnosis

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Fabio Magnocavallo
Assistant Editor

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