Romesh Ranganathan opens up about suffering suicidal thoughts during ‘toughest time’ of his life

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Describing the “really challenging” time, Ranganathan said: “I’ve got loads of memories of reacting really badly to things irrationally, over-the-top reactions. There were loads of times during that period when I thought about it and I’d fantasise about it… I’d spend time thinking about it.” He continued: “That was the toughest time and then as I got older, I still had the same issues, but I started to be able to deal with them a bit more effectively. It’s just gone, and then occasionally, you just go dark again.” Asked by host Steven Bartlett about the stereotype that comedians are often either depressed or have a family member with mental health problems, Ranganathan said: “I don’t think that all comedians are depressed, but I do think that all comedians are wired slightly differently. “They’ve had something happen to them that changed the wiring, that has made them an outsider in some way.” If you are experiencing feelings of distress and isolation, or are struggling to cope, the Samaritans offers support; you can speak to someone for free over the phone, in confidence, on 116 123, email [email protected], or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.