Sheridan Smith’s ‘nightmare’ ordeal after being banned from plane for being ‘too drunk’

Sheridan Smith has opened up about her past alcohol struggles and admitted to missing a flight after being told she was ‘too drunk’ to board in a candid interview

Sheridan Smith says she was once banned from a flight when drunk(Image: Dave Benett/WireImage)

Sheridan Smith has revealed she was refused boarding on a flight for being “too drunk” while discussing a “nightmare” experience. The 44-year-old actress has previously spoken openly about her years-long battle with alcohol.

However, in 2019 the Royle Family star made the decision to give up drinking, confessing she is “so much better” without it. During a frank interview three years prior, she acknowledged she was “struggling with drink” alongside her mental health difficulties.

Following her decision to stop drinking, she observed the “bloat in my face had gone”. Prior to becoming sober though, Sheridan disclosed that alcohol caused her significant problems with airline staff on a journey to America.

Speaking on Alan Carr’s Life’s a Beach podcast, the comedian questioned whether Sheridan had ever missed a flight. This followed her admission that she has “ADHD” and frequently forgets to pack her belongings.

Sheridan, who currently appears in BBC One’s The Cage, replied: “Yeah. I went to Florida to watch my mate boxing.”

Sheridan stars in The Cage

She whispered: “[I was] Too drunk.” A stunned Alan responded: “Why? Too drunk. Oh God.”

Sheridan went on: “I was too drunk. But I don’t drink now, so I can say it now and I can look back and laugh. But at the time it was a nightmare because everyone else got on the flight. Oh my God, I was left there.”

Sheridan has previously admitted she “felt ashamed of going off the rails” while her father Colin fought terminal cancer in 2016. Speaking at the time to The Times, she described herself as “doubly grieving”. Her late father’s diagnosis is believed to have triggered resurfaced “trauma” surrounding her brother Julian Smith’s death at 18 from the same condition during Sheridan’s childhood.

She revealed to the outlet that she felt “very ashamed” of what transpired as she descended into heavy drinking and became dependent on anti-anxiety medication. She said: “That’s another thing I felt ashamed of – going off the rails when it was my dad who was suffering.”

 

Sheridan Smith in The Cage(Image: BBC)

Sheridan reportedly ceased taking medication after a quip from Graham Norton at the 2016 BAFTAs. He joked: “The sooner we begin, the sooner we can have a couple of drinks – or, as they say in theatrical circles, a couple of glasses of technical difficulties.”

Sheridan currently features in The Cage on BBC One. She portrays casino employee Leanne who, alongside colleague Matty (Michael Socha), desperately requires cash.

The duo discover each other pilfering from their boss, landing them both in serious trouble with criminals and authorities. The series was shot in Liverpool, which Sheridan dubbed her “adopted” home following her appearance in the 2016 drama Cilla.

She said: “I just love the city, I’m just obsessed with the people, they’re so friendly, although when I was doing Cilla, I do remember someone going past and they went, ‘Who’s that, Lulu?’

“But they’re just brilliant and fun and I do feel that after Cilla came out they’ve kind of taken me under their wing. So to be back there was great, they were bringing me cups of tea, inviting me around, inviting me out, it was great, I love them.”