Nineties boxing legend (Hamlet Advertising, 2005), Frank Bruno, was interviewed by Piers Morgan Friday night for Piers’ ‘Life Stories’ (Amazon, 2012) segment and the interview was met with overwhelming responses. The 50 year old Frank Bruno, who was diagnosed with bipolar a few years back (Eames, 2012), expressed his gratitude to his fans as he left a hospital for a month long exhaustion treatment.
Tonight his interview for Piers Morgan’s Life Stories, which was recorded last month, was screened on ITV1.
And it prompted an immediate reaction from viewers on Twitter with Frank Bruno’s name the number one trending topic.
Host Piers tweeted: “Amazing Twitter reaction to #FrankBruno tonight – never seen anything like it for any #LifeStories show. Says it all about the Big Man.”
Meanwhile TV host Philip Schofield wrote: “Life Stories with Frank Bruno Very hard to watch the hard times of such a wonderful guy. His kids eyes tell you everything.”
Manchester City star Vincent Kompany added: “Watching Frank Bruno’s interview on ITV1 what a great character he is. ‘I wasn’t the most talented but I was the most determined.'”
Over on the Daily Mirror’s Facebook page, dozens of readers posted messages of support for the ex-boxing champ.
Mandy Walker wrote: “We think he’s just as lovely as he ever was …just a down to earth bloke, with problems like us all.
“He has a great sense of humour, can laugh at life and has come through all his trials and tribulations and i wish him and his family all the very best.”
Meanwhile Debbie Dumelow said she was in tears watching it. She added: “We need to change how we treat the issues that have affected him – sorry i hate the term mental health.
“He got sick, no different to a heart problem or any other illness why should you feel ashamed.
“Bless him, such issues can affect anyone and I wish him the very best of luck in getting well.
“If we treated these illness’s better people would recover quicker and cost the NHS less money.”
His family – including his children Nicola, 29, Rachel, 25 and 16-year-old Franklyn – are supporting the much-loved former sportsman.
And yesterday Frank’s family said the interview was “positive” and were pleased it was being shown.
Host Piers, 47, added: “The family say he is doing well and that this has nothing to do with the show.
“He has been up and down for years like this, but they say he is now in a good place and the show will benefit him.”
Frank put in a lot of preparation to look good for the show which friends fear led to his relapse.
Frank’s previous battle with mental illness began when he was sectioned following the break-up of his marriage to Laura, 47, in 2001. (Cockerton, 2012)
It is wonderful to see Frank in good spirits as it is well known that bipolar is a difficult condition to deal with. Also known as manic-depressive illness (National Institute Of Mental Health, 2008), it is a brain disorder that causes unusual but extreme shifts in mood, energy and activity levels. Symptoms start around the age of 25 (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2009) and get progressively severe as one ages. Medication and therapy can be assigned to help deal with the illness.
In this case, it interfered with Frank’s livelihood to the point where he could not work, however, he is taking advantage of help. Piers Morgan did an awesome job in the interview by giving Frank a chance to be remembered, as well as shed light on the serious issue of bipolar disease.
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Word On The Screen 