Former Melbourne radio star reveals dementia battle

Former Melbourne radio star Steve Bedwell has revealed the new daily challenges he faces after receiving a heartbreaking diagnosis.

Former radio star and TV writer Steve Bedwell has been diagnosed with early onset dementia. Picture: Sarah Matray

Former radio star Steve Bedwell has opened up about the pain of being diagnosed with early onset dementia.

“I can no longer read my own handwriting, and I can’t remember conversations or events, even day-to-day,” Bedwell said in a heartbreaking Facebook post. “Twice, I have been out at night, and found myself parking outside a house I haven’t live in for five years. I have been given 10 years before Alzheimers kicks in.”

Bedwell also co-hosted Triple M’s Timbo (Tim Smith) and Bedders, a breakfast show that dominated ­ratings from 1998 to 2001.

Tim Smith (left) and Steve Bedwell during their top-rating Triple M days.

He also worked as a writer and producer on Tonight Live With Steve Vizard, The Footy Show, Russell Gilbert Live, and The Eric Bana Show.

Last year, Bedwell and won the AACTA Reg Grundy Award for a TV concept, Seven Pups, which follows a litter of puppies and the families raising them.

Sadly, Bedwell said he “sold off the rights” to the show to his collaborators, Geraldine Coy and Bryan Cockerill, because he “needed the money.”

“That hurt, but it is in good hands,” he added, then joked: “It’s certainly not cheap to lose your mind.”

Bedwell’s focus is now his two young daughters. “I had always wanted to see at least one of them get married … that’s what I fight for. They’re driving me to never give up.”

Last March, Bedwell spoke about living with mental illness, and the nine times he has been admitted to psychiatric hospitals after he was found to have bipolar disorder.