John Robins has opened up about giving up alcohol after decades of heavy drinking – revealing that after a string of failed relationships, Last One Laughing star Lou Sanders told him to get help.
The comedian and broadcaster announced in 2023 that he was an alcoholic, sharing the news in an episode of his podcast with Elis James, How Do You Cope. He’s now detailing his journey to sobriety in his new book, Thirst.
Speaking about his relationship with alcohol in a new interview, Robins said that he finally accepted that he was an alcoholic after meeting up with friend and fellow comedian Lou Sanders.
According to The Guardian, he told her: “I want to die. I want alcohol to be the thing that kills me. I’m going to drink myself to death.” Sanders then held his hand, the pair cried and Sanders told him that he was an alcoholic and “needed help”.
“I’d always thought alcoholics were people who drank all the time, who didn’t resist, who just ruined every party because they were drunk when they turned up,” he told the publication. “But now, with the effort I’d expended planning, concealing, executing my plans, I was just worn out. Just completely worn out.”
The realisation came after a series of relationships broke down; Robins dated fellow comic Sara Pascoe until 2016 and two years later, he struck up a romance with fashion design Coco Fennell – the sister of director Emerald and daughter of jewellery designer Theo.
Robins told The Guardian that he was convinced Fennell was “the one”, with the pair becoming engaged in 2019, however their split in 2021 broke his heart and he “cracked up”.
The comedian also revealed that his GP had issued him with a stark warning about his drinking in 2020 after he’d experienced anxiety, rapid weight loss and his heart beating “like a marching band”.
“I’ve had many patients that drink like you. I’ve buried most of them,” his GP told him. “Some make 70, most die in their 50s and 60s, some in their 40s. Having the odd night off is irrelevant when you’re drinking as much as you do. You need to sort your f***ing life out.”
Robins started out as a stand-up in 2005 and has since appeared on Russell Howard’s Good News, Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled, Taskmaster and Live at the Apollo.
He began hosting a Radio X show with Elis James in 2014 and won the Edinburgh Comedy Award in 2017 (jointly with Hannah Gadsby) for his show detailing his split from Pascoe. The pair still host a show together on BBC 5 Live and in 2024, they won the Radio Times Moment of the Year award at the ARIAs for an episode of How Do You Cope? in which Robins revealed his alcoholism.
If you or someone you know is suffering from alcohol addiction, you can confidentially call the national alcohol helpline Drinkline on 0300 123 1110 or visit the NHS website here for information about the programmes available to you.
If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email [email protected], or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.
If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call the National Suicide Prevention Helpline on 1-800-273-TALK (8255). This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you.
