Begin Again with Davina McCall DJ Fat Tony: Surviving My Darkest Years & What Recovery Really Looks Like
Mar 12, 2026
DJ Fat Tony, a British DJ and nightlife figure who wrote candidly about addiction and recovery, narrates his journey from London club life to confronting childhood trauma. He discusses sex, alcohol and drug addictions, an HIV diagnosis, therapy and the slow work of sobriety. The conversation focuses on survival, rebuilding trust, relationships that helped him heal, and what true recovery looks like.
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The Triangle That Defined Tony's Addiction
- At his worst Tony took around an eighth (3.5g) of cocaine daily and lived a 'dealer-club-dealer' triangle.
- He describes friends turning into a herd of addicts and the centrifugal loss of good people around him.
How Drugs Destroyed Tony's Teeth
- Years of meth, dehydration and picking at his gums left Tony with 'meth mouth' and almost no teeth.
- He describes chewing his gums, breaking teeth off, and being left with only one bottom tooth.
Hospital Wakeup Call And HIV Diagnosis
- Tony's mum found him unconscious and rushed him to hospital where he was diagnosed with HIV and treated for severe complications.
- He spent months in hospital and even then waited for a dealer outside with a drip in his arm.
