Simon Brodkin's ADHD Journey

“Suddenly My Whole Personality Made Sense”: Simon Brodkin Opens Up About His ADHD Diagnosis

You might know Simon Brodkin better as his mischievous alter ego, Lee Nelson—the man who famously showered Sepp Blatter with cash, crashed Kanye West’s Glastonbury set, and handed Donald Trump golf balls emblazoned with swastikas. But behind the wild stunts and headline-grabbing pranks is a man recently faced with a life-altering realisation: he has ADHD.

In a raw and revealing conversation, Simon opens up about how his diagnosis has forced him to re-evaluate not just his career, but his entire sense of self.

The Diagnosis That Changed Everything

“I always knew I was a bit… off,” Simon laughs, reflecting on his earlier years. “Not many people get arrested six times and can call it a career.”

But it wasn’t until about six months ago that a doctor finally connected the dots. While preparing for a gig, Simon happened to be listening to a podcast from ADDitude magazine. As the speaker listed common ADHD traits, he felt something crack open inside him.

“My jaw just dropped. I started crying in the car. It felt like someone had been watching me my entire life, then written a script about me and called it ADHD. Suddenly my whole personality made sense.”

It was a profoundly emotional moment. For Simon, who had built a career on chaos and clever disruption, this wasn’t just a diagnosis—it was a mirror.

A Doctor Who Didn’t See It Coming

Ironically, Simon isn’t just a comedian—he’s also a qualified doctor. Yet the possibility that he had ADHD never occurred to him, even after years working in the medical field.

“That says a lot about how little training or awareness there is around mental health—even in medicine,” he admits. “I went through medical school, worked as a junior doctor, and never once considered it.”

It’s a powerful critique of the gaps in the healthcare system and a reminder of how invisible ADHD can be, especially in adults who’ve developed coping mechanisms to mask it.

A Lifetime of Clues

Looking back, the signs were always there. At school, Simon was constantly in trouble—disruptive, distracted, disinterested. “I was thrown out of more classes than I can count. I just couldn’t concentrate on things that didn’t engage me.”

That’s one of the cruel ironies of ADHD. It’s not about not trying. It’s about not being able to force yourself to care about things that don’t click. “Telling someone with ADHD to ‘just focus’ is like telling a blind person to look harder,” he says.

Fortunately, Simon found something that did click. He buckled down for his A-levels, nailed his exams, and made it to medical school. But the moment he was back in a setting where rote tasks and rigid expectations ruled the day—working as a junior doctor—he felt that old dissonance creep back in.

“I wasn’t getting drunk with my mates anymore. Suddenly I had real responsibilities. It just didn’t feel right,” he recalls. “So I left and became a comedian. As you do.”

Validation Through Diagnosis

For Simon, finally getting a formal diagnosis was transformative.

“It means everything to me,” he says. “This isn’t like those people at parties who say, ‘I think I’ve got a bit of ADHD.’ No, this was real. Diagnosed by a doctor. Not imagined, not exaggerated. And it was a revelation.”

He’s critical of the way mental health—especially ADHD—is often downplayed or misunderstood. “You never hear someone say, ‘Oh my god, you’re pregnant? I’ve always thought I might be a little bit pregnant.’ But with ADHD, people throw it around like that. And it really harms those of us genuinely struggling.”

Encouraging Others to Seek Help

Simon’s message to others who suspect they may be dealing with ADHD or other mental health conditions is simple: get help.

“Don’t worry about wasting your doctor’s time. That mindset costs lives every year,” he warns. “The NHS is under pressure, yes, but it’s still there. It still works. Book the appointment.”

And if your local practice isn’t helping? “Switch. It’s easier than switching banks.”

Identity, Heritage, and the Edinburgh Fringe

As if grappling with an ADHD diagnosis wasn’t enough, Simon has also recently discovered a surprising detail about his heritage: he’s Russian. “Could I have picked a worse time?” he jokes.

This journey of self-discovery—through ADHD, family history, and fame—is all coming together in his new stand-up show Screwed Up, premiering at the Edinburgh Fringe. It’s an honest, hilarious dive into identity, chaos, and the unfiltered truth behind the jokes.

“In a way, it’s the most me I’ve ever been on stage,” Simon says.

Final Thoughts

Simon Brodkin’s story is one of unmasking—not just in shedding the costumes of Lee Nelson, but in stripping away assumptions, self-doubt, and misunderstanding. His ADHD diagnosis didn’t change who he is—it helped him understand why he is.

And in doing so, it gave him something even more powerful than a punchline: clarity.

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