Benji Waterhouse

Benji Waterhouse
Waterhouse at the 2025 Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Born (1984-10-30) October 30, 1984 (age 42)
London, England
EducationUniversity of Leeds (MD)
Occupations
  • Psychiatrist
  • Comedian
  • Author

Benjamin Waterhouse (born 30 October 1984) is an English consultant psychiatrist, stand-up comedian, and author known for his contributions to mental health care.

Early life and education

Waterhouse grew up in Northumberland, England. He studied medicine at Leeds Medical school where he also graduated with a first-class honors degree in Medical Ethics.

Career

Medical

After completing his medical degree, Waterhouse moved to London to specialize in psychiatry where he continues to work for the National Health Service (NHS). He has a special interest in psychedelics and helped to research psilocybin (magic mushrooms) for depression on a world-famous study featured in a BBC documentary. He was included in a list of 'Inspiring Psychiatrists' by the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

Comedy

Waterhouse is a stand-up comedian, which he began in 2014.

Writing

His debut memoir was You Don't Have to Be Mad to Work Here: A Psychiatrist's Life, published by Vintage. The book offers a detailed account of NHS psychiatry, characterized as a "fly on the padded wall" perspective, and is a candid representation of life within the National Health Service (NHS). It received a 5-star review from The Telegraph and was described by The Guardian as "humane, hilarious, eye-opening," drawing comparisons to Adam Kay's This Is Going to Hurt. The memoir was a Times Book of the Week and listed among The I Newspaper's funniest books of 2024. In an interview on Richard Herring's 'Leicester Square Theatre Podcast' Waterhouse revealed he is adapting his book for television with House Productions.

Media appearances

Waterhouse has discussed mental health on television with Sky News and Channel 5. He has also spoken on BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 5 Live and Times Radio. He has appeared on popular podcasts such as Richard Herring's Leicester Square Theatre podcast, Healiners with Nihal Arthanayake and Dr Alex George's Stompcast. He has written for The Guardian, The Independent and the British Medical Journal (BMJ). He also appears regularly at book festivals. His comedy reels on Instagram have more than 3 million views.

Personal life

Waterhouse resides in London.

References

  1. 1 2 Clarke, Rachel (16 May 2024). "You Don't Have to Be Mad to Work Here by Benji Waterhouse review – the doctor won't see you now". theguardian.com. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  2. ↑ "Headliners with Nihal Arthanayake - Dr Benji Waterhouse - BBC Sounds". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-01-16.
  3. 1 2 "Meet Dr Benji Waterhouse, the Adam Kay of mental healthcare". thetimes.com. 5 May 2024. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  4. ↑ "Meet Benji Waterhouse: NHS Psychiatrist, Stand-up Comedian and Now Published Author". Living North. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
  5. ↑ "Benji Waterhouse on writing | Author interview". Curtis Brown Creative. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
  6. ↑ Keane, Daniel (2024-05-24). "You Don't Have to Be Mad to Work Here review: A vital yet hilarious exposé of the NHS". The Standard. Retrieved 2025-01-16.
  7. ↑ "BBC Radio 4 - Doctor, Doctor, Psychiatrist, comedian and author Dr Benji Waterhouse". BBC. Retrieved 2025-01-16.
  8. ↑ Guide, British Comedy (2020-11-18). "Benji Waterstones to publish book about being a psychiatrist". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
  9. ↑ "BBC Two - The Psychedelic Drug Trial". BBC. Retrieved 2025-01-17.
  10. ↑ Waterhouse, Dr Benji (2024-05-02). "My patient thinks he's a werewolf: 10 years as an NHS psychiatrist". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
  11. ↑ "Benji Waterhouse". curtisbrown.co.uk. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  12. ↑ "The problems of a flawed profession". TLS. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
  13. ↑ "Book of the Month: You Don't Have to be Mad to Work Here by Dr Benji Waterhouse". Welldoing. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
  14. ↑ "Dr. Benji Waterstones". champions-speakers.co.uk. 2024-12-05. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
  15. ↑ Brown, Helen (2024-05-11). "A witty, poignant insight into one NHS psychiatrist's crazy workload". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2025-01-17.
  16. ↑ Bonet, Anna (2024-12-20). "The 14 funniest books of 2024". The i Paper. Retrieved 2025-01-17.
  17. ↑ "Dr Benji Waterhouse brings NHS psychiatry to life in UK book tour: Laughter, insights, and Q&A without the wait". Melton Times. 2024-12-17. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
  18. ↑ Green, Kia-Elise (2024-05-21). "Dr Benji Waterhouse: What it is really like to work as an NHS psychiatrist". The i Paper. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
  19. ↑ "An evening with Dr Benji Waterhouse". Chiltern Bookshops. Retrieved 2025-01-07.