Broadcaster David Harper joins Bipolar UK as ambassador

Journalist and broadcaster David Harper has been announced as Bipolar UK’s latest ambassador, bringing his lived experience of bipolar and ADHD to help more people understand the realities of both conditions. 

David, who currently presents across BBC, ITV and has his own Saturday breakfast show on LBC, first shared his bipolar diagnosis publicly in 2023. As a freelance broadcaster, he’s spoken candidly about his concerns that being open about his mental health could affect future work opportunities. Despite those fears, he chose to speak out in the hope of encouraging more open conversations about mental health and to help others feel less alone.  

David first became aware of the strong link between bipolar and ADHD after coming across Bipolar UK's information. 

Speaking about that moment, he said: 

“I remember reading a statistic on the Bipolar UK website that around one in five people with bipolar also have ADHD. It was seeing this that made me consider the possibility I might have ADHD as well. After looking through the symptoms and learning more about how the two conditions differ, it was a real penny-drop moment for me, and it prompted me to seek an assessment. 

“Understanding more about ADHD helped me make sense of experiences I'd had throughout my life. It’s also made me realise how easy it is to misunderstand both mental health and neurodivergence. Working with Bipolar UK gives me a great opportunity to help other people cut through misinformation to access reliable resources and get the right diagnosis and support.”

David has supported Bipolar UK for several years, hosting events and speaking at World Bipolar Day conferences alongside fellow ambassadors Nicky Chinn, Heston Blumenthal and Leah Charles-King. 

On his appointment, David says: 

“I've been involved with Bipolar UK for a number of years now, so I'm incredibly proud they’ve asked me to become an official ambassador. 

“When I hit send on the video sharing my bipolar diagnosis back in 2023, I wasn't sure how people would react. But I had some really positive responses, which just confirms how important it is that we talk openly about mental illness. It’s no exaggeration to say that Bipolar UK's information and peer support services change lives every day. It’s going to be great to be a more active part of that, and to help more people feel informed and understood.”  

As an ambassador, David will help raise awareness of bipolar, share his own experiences, and support Bipolar UK's work to ensure everyone affected can access trusted guidance and community.