Louis Theroux's BBC documentary on alcoholism, Drinking to Oblivion, contained some of the most moving moments on television this year. Spending time in King's College Hospital's specialist liver centre, Louis captured the stories of patients in the grips of alcohol addiction, showing it is a problem that can affect people from all walks of life.
Brighton-born Joe Walker was one of those featured in the programme, emerging from a state of desperate alcohol dependency and managing to get into recovery over the course of documentary's filming.
The plight of Joe, who has turned 32-years-old since filming began, reduced viewers to tears when he was shown walking out of hospital covered in blood, to buy vodka after being told his continued alcoholism would kill him.
In a now iconic and moving scene, he then decided against buying it, declaring the bottle he had bought from a nearby shop was 'only Perrier' - a turning point in his battle with booze.
Talking exclusively to LADbible, he tells me that he has now been in recovery for nearly nine months, and that he has found stability since moving from London to his hometown of Brighton.
"At the core of any recovery is that idea of stability, and on a very basic level it begins with being in an environment that is comfortable," he tells me. "It's somewhere I feel safe and I know my surroundings and people - so it's a place where the rest of my recovery can be formed."
Before appearing on film, many of his family and friends were unaware of his problems with alcoholism and he credits the film with allowing him to get over the shame of his addiction so he could begin to tackle it.
"I think there was some shame and fear about how people would respond if I was in recovery from alcohol problems," he says. "When I was laying in that hospital bed and I was asked if I'd like to speak to the crew I had a think about it, but then I just thought 'yes'."
"I thought that then it would be out in the open and however it was received I wouldn't have to keep secrets anymore. I think secrets are really harmful for me, personally, because they're filled with worry."
Joe first watched the film before it was aired alongside Louis Theroux and director Tom Barrow, and says the two have been incredibly supportive of him during his recovery.
Describing how he felt when he first watched the film, Joe says it brought home how dire his situation had been.
"I was just sat in silence with my hands to my mouth. I found that scene in particular just so difficult to watch," he says.
Joe and Louis during filming (Credit: BBC iPlayer)
"I'd always known that it couldn't have been good but I'd never seen myself from the outside looking in. That brought home just how chaotic and just what a mess I was. That was extremely powerful actually and watching it back made the experience really concrete in my mind."
Since appearing on the show, Joe has been inundated with messages on his Twitter account, as well as being approached by viewers on the street. A number of people have revealed their own battles with drink to him and he says he is glad to have helped them on their path to recovery.
"It's been surreal. Lots of people have come up to me and said well done," he tells me. "There's been occasions where strangers have come up to me, asked if I was 'Joe from Louis Theroux' and then they've just thrown their arms around me.
"It's nice to know we live in a world where people will take the time to express support, admiration and love - very basic human qualities that I think we forget about easily in the day-to-day of live. It's a real positive to come out of something that's quite horrible. I've actually met several people now who have come into recovery on the back of the film."
Joe has nothing but praise for Louis Theroux and he echoes TheLADbible's feeling that Louis deserves to be recognised as a national treasure off the back of the programme.
"I met up with Louis a few weeks ago. We went for a coffee in London, and he tweeted a selfie of us that received a huge reaction of positivity when he tweeted it," Joe says. "I suppose he is one of these people we might call a 'national treasure'. He's almost universally liked and he is in real life as he is on camera. He's very sweet natured and interested in people and things."
"I think his documentaries are so interesting because he actually finds the subject interesting as well. I think he understands the power of documentary films, and there are some important things that need to be addressed."
Ultimately Joe says his path to recovery and role in raising awareness of what is Britain's most common addiction has allowed him a sense of salvation. Having lost his job, he has now found himself work in a similar career area to where he previously worked, and says his employers have been 'incredibly supportive'.
"I feel pretty contented most of the time. I have my anxieties, but there again, everyone does. But I feel better able to deal them now which I think is because I have a lot of love and support around me," he adds.
"I don't feel any shame now about what happened. I absolutely regret hurting my family and friends by being in that position," he says. "But I've also thought that with the public responding so well to the issues in the show its helped lots of other people that, like me, have tried to keep their problems on the quiet."
Asked if he has any advice for lads struggling with alcohol problems, he says that 'although it might be cliché', the first step is admitting to yourself that you have a problem.
"I understand how scary it is and how scary it can be to admit you've got a problem and admit it to somebody else," he says. "There are lots of alcohol services in this country that you can get in touch with, that are either run by their members or local health authorities."
"I think the main thing is to say is that giving up alcohol doesn't mean life has to be hard, or life stops being fun. I have so much fun without drinking but when I was drinking fun revolved around drinking. It was how to make the weekend more interesting, or that it was a brilliant way to meet girls."
But he adds that being in recovery doesn't have to be a cock-block: "I was always scared that when I professed I wasn't drinking, girls would run a mile and that's really not been the case. I've been on some dates since the programme and when I've told them why I don't drink, it's been absolutely no problem that I'm in recovery."
Becoming tee-total doesn't mean your life ending and Joe says he's been able to find and explore new ways of enjoying life that he would never have experienced if he hadn't quit.
"I'll [still go to the pub] if there's a reason, like if I'm going on a date and we want to go for a quick drink or if it's someone's birthday. I don't want to isolate myself, but there has be a reason.
"But I know lots of young people in recovery who still go clubbing - and they're able to do that - so fun doesn't have to end when you don't drink."
Really, it's time we started talking about alcoholism. Although the majority of us enjoy a drink without it becoming an issue, the NHS estimates that around 9% of men in the UK and 3% of UK women show signs of alcohol dependence.
It's likely we will all encounter someone around us who struggles with alcoholism over the course of our lifetime and it's up to us to be there when they feel able to have the conversation and to support them, because as Joe's story shows us, he couldn't have made it without the love and support of his close ones.
As he admits: "My friends and family were incredibly supportive throughout and they just needed to take a step back and let me get to where I've got to. And I think it's incredibly important to say that about them."
If you think you could have problem with alcohol dependency, check out UK charity Alcohol Concern, which provides tips on how to 'bid the booze goodbye'. It's time to speak up lads. Don't stay quiet and struggle alone.
Shout out to Joe for sharing his struggle.
Words by James Dawson
Feature Image Credit: Chris Ward
Featured Image Credit:Topics: louis theroux
