09 September 2023 , 12:07
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Celebrity Masterchef winner Wynne Evans candidly shared his battle with debilitating depression as he revealed once tried to take his own life.
The Welsh singer and radio DJ was crowned the winner on Friday night by judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace in a tense final, with Wynne beating fellow finalists Amy Walsh and Luca Bish after cooking his incredible three-course meal. “I have never seen a celebrity cook like him ever before and I'm not sure we ever will again,” Gregg said as Wynne was named the Celebrity MasterChef champion.
Shortly after he was awarded the coveted trophy, Wynne bravely spoke about the time he contemplated suicide, and reflected on the long journey he has made since battling depression. “When they gave me the trophy - I’ll just get melancholy for a moment, right - I remember thinking 'Six years ago I was contemplating… well, I tried to take my own life and now look at me. I’m standing here in a studio with the MasterChef trophy'. It was a really poignant moment for me,” he said in an interview after the final.
Wynne was overjoyed to be crowned winner (PA)Wynne was convinced Emmerdale star Amy “had smashed it” so didn’t expect to win, and was overwhelmed with his “amazing journey” which has culminated in him scooping the top honour. “I was crying and all of this kind of stuff, but it was just an amazing journey. It was just an incredible journey. Can you imagine turning up to cook a dessert you’ve never cooked before and then they’re telling you you’re serving it to Raymond Blanc?” he gushed.
The TV star has previously spoken about his mental health, and earlier this year, he revealed he was at his lowest ebb during the breakdown of his marriage in 2016. “I was going through the worst depression, clinical depression. I would think about (suicide), I would try and action it... I couldn't see a way out; I couldn't see a way of ever being happy again,” he said during an interview on BBC Radio Wales. Wynne acknowledged he needed help, and started to “try and put my life back together” with professional support. “I was feeling suicidal, and it was terrible. I just thought, I'm either going to do something terrible or I need to go and see a proper psychiatrist.”
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Wynne has since turned his life around, and now considers his depression and anxiety as a “superpower”, and urged others to “put the work in” to improve their mental health. “Life is about putting in the work yourself. When you put the work in, then you're ready to run with it... There's no right or wrong, just don't be embarrassed,” he shared. Wynne was prescribed medication for his anxiety and depression, and felt “much better, practically instantly”, and said it was “really important” to talk about mental health.
The star became the first-ever Welsh winner of Celebrity MasterChef, and his restaurant-standard menu featured a starter of Carmarthen-Japanese sumo tuna tartare with deep-fried cockle popcorn and a mango egg, followed by a main of lamb, served on samphire with wild garlic, porcini mushrooms and fried bread, with pomme dauphine and a fondant leek. His dessert was bara brith, which is a rich Welsh fruit loaf, served with Caerphilly cheese, fig jam, brie ice cream and poached figs.
If you're struggling and need to talk, the Samaritans operate a free helpline open 24/7 on 116 123. Alternatively, you can email [email protected] or visit their site to find your local branch