DJ Fat Tony: Recovery, Chaos & Forgiving My Attacker

Pete welcomes legendary DJ and cultural icon DJ Fat Tony to the Man Made studio.

From growing up in Battersea with a dominant father to becoming one of the most recognisable figures in global nightlife, Tony reflects on a life shaped by chaos, addiction and relentless reinvention.

In this episode he opens up about the realities of recovery, the long process of confronting learned behaviours, and why getting sober didn’t automatically fix everything. Tony talks honestly about addiction in all its forms, the mental noise that’s followed him since childhood, and the work it’s taken to finally feel comfortable in his own skin.

Tony also shares the impact of being violently attacked while DJing in Margate, how he processed the trauma that followed, and why forgiveness rather than revenge ultimately gave him peace.

Tony’s Full Fat Season 9 events are running across London with dates until April 2026.

If you want to find mental health support where you live, or talk about your feelings, visit the Hub of Hope (www.hubofhope.co.uk), where you can find links to services across the UK.

We’d love you to join the conversation – follow @manmadepod on Instagram & TikTok.

Content Warning: Addiction, Violence, Homophobia

Producer - Connor Gani
Senior Video Producer - Elena Cotton
Camera Operator - Garry Brown
Social Media Producer - Demi Brockway
Production Assistant - Emily Spungin
Production Manager - Sarah Nicholls
Executive Producer - Finn Ryan
Head of Production - Cat Moran
Chief Creative Officer - Lucie Cave