STEPHEN FRY - FRY BROADCASTS MENTAL BATTLES

British actor STEPHEN FRY has candidly revealed the full horror of his battle with mental illness in a tell-all documentary. Fry, who was only diagnosed with bipolar disorder aged 37, admits he was terrified to bare his soul in front of the cameras but hopes his story will encourage other sufferers. He recalls, "Everything that happens is because you are a c**t. That's because I am a complete w**ker, that' s because I'm an a**ehole, yes. "You kind of almost have a Tourette's view of yourself. "I want to speak out, to fight the public stigma and to give a clearer picture of a mental illness most people know little about." THE SECRET LIFE OF THE MANIC DEPRESSIVE also features contributions from RICHARD DREYFUSS and CARRIE FISHER. It airs in the UK this week (begs18SEP06).