Entertainment
Simon Pegg Confirms ADHD Diagnosis After Years of Uncertainty
By Today News Hours Editorial Desk
Actor Simon Pegg, 56, who co‑created and starred in films such as Hot Fuzz, The World’s End and the TV series Spaced, confirmed that he has been diagnosed with ADHD. Pegg said the diagnosis “confirmed a lot of stuff that I’d been wrestling with” and that it had taken a long time to reach that point.
Speaking on the podcast I’m ADHD! No You’re Not on Thursday, Pegg explained that he sought a diagnosis simply because he wanted to know. He described ADHD symptoms as focusing on inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity and a lack of concentration. Pegg noted that while many people may feel they have similar symptoms, genetics play a significant role and a formal diagnosis is given to those who are negatively affected on a daily basis.
Pegg also discussed his mental health history, including clinical depression and difficulties controlling his drinking, which he initially thought might have caused his diagnosis. He said he had experienced bouts of depression since age 18 and had been treating the symptoms with therapy and medication without addressing the underlying cause.
He added that he had long suspected he might have ADHD, noting that he had fidgeted as a child and that his wife has been supportive, “dealing with it as if I’d been diagnosed ages ago.” Pegg said, “It’s just who I am, and it’s just things that I do. She makes allowances for forgetfulness and lack of concentration.”
Pegg had previously mentioned that his poor driving was linked to undiagnosed ADHD. He has several speeding convictions and recalled reversing into a post while on holiday in Greece, which prompted him to research whether people with ADHD are more likely to be involved in car accidents. He found that the answer was yes, citing a lack of focus as a contributing factor.
Other celebrities who have been diagnosed with ADHD in adulthood include Johnny Vegas, Sue Perkins, Ant McPartlin, Richard Bacon, Rory Bremner and Erin O’Connor. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence describes ADHD as a behavioural syndrome characterised by hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention. The NHS estimates that about 2.5 million people in England have ADHD, including those without a formal diagnosis. Diagnosis rates of ADHD and autism have risen sharply, and waiting lists for assessments on the NHS in England are at record levels, with some areas even closing lists due to high demand.
Research from University College London indicates a nearly 20‑fold increase in the number of UK adults diagnosed with ADHD between 2000 and 2018. Despite these rises, some studies suggest ADHD may still be underdiagnosed. A June study in the Lancet Regional Health Europe journal found that while around 1.2 % of adults in England had an ADHD diagnosis, international prevalence estimates range from 3–5 %, indicating possible underdiagnosis, especially in older age groups.