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Drinkers Like Me - Adrian Chiles

Adrian Chiles takes a look at his love of boozing, exploring why he and others don't think they are addicted to alcohol but find it almost impossible to enjoy life without it.

In this revealingly intimate documentary for BBC2, Adrian Chiles takes a long, hard look at his own love of boozing. He wants to find out why he and many others don't think they are addicted to alcohol despite finding it almost impossible to enjoy life without it. Adrian, who drinks almost every day, decides to start a drinking diary and soon finds out his intake is way over the recommended limit. He decides to visit his parents to find out what it was that motivated him to start drinking as a teenager and reveals that sneaking into pubs underage was all about friendship and being part of something, and that the allure of the social side of drinking has never really left him since his teens.

So after drinking far too much for far too long, Adrian decides to get his liver checked out. The results come as a shock and after seeing an addiction therapist Adrian begins to realise that like many other people he needs to do something about his excessive boozing. His big question is whether he needs to quit completely or if he can drink more responsibly. His first port of call is old mate Frank Skinner. Frank was a Pernod in the morning bedwetting kind of drinker but quit 30 years ago. His advice to Adrian is unexpected.

59 minutes

Last on

Wed 17 Feb 202100:30

Music Played

  • Richard Hawley

    I Sleep Alone

  • Allen Toussaint

    Blue Drag

  • Alabama Shakes

    Sound & Color

  • Bon Iver

    Skinny Love

  • Lily Allen

    As Long As I Got You

  • Richard Hawley

    Last Orders

  • Massive Attack

    Small Time Shot Away

  • Michael Kiwanuka

    Bones

  • Willie Nelson

    Blue Skies (Album Version)

  • Mose Allison

    Your Mind Is On Vacation

Credits

RoleContributor
PresenterAdrian Chiles
ComposerIan Livingstone
Director of photographyJonathan Young
Camera OperatorJoss Cubitt
Camera OperatorGeorge Vernon
SoundJon Gilbert
SoundGrant Studart
SoundPaul Taylor
Re-recording mixerMatt Faulkner
On-line editingFred Baillod
Camera AssistantAsh Connaughton
Camera AssistantAlban Thomson
Assistant ProducerKeaton Stone
ProducerJess Austin
Production ManagerMalaine Adams
Executive ProducerJoanna Ball
ProducerLaurence Turnbull
DirectorLaurence Turnbull
Production CompanyRicochet
Film EditorAmanda Baxter

Broadcasts

  • Mon 27 Aug 201821:00
  • Mon 3 Sep 201823:15
  • Sat 15 Sep 201803:20
  • Sun 13 Jan 201922:00
  • Fri 17 May 201923:05
  • Tue 7 Jan 202000:15
  • Sat 11 Jan 202000:05
  • Wed 17 Feb 202100:30