Amy Winehouse’s ex claims Trainspotting inspired teenage drug battle amid film's ‘woke’ trigger warning row

Lydia Davies
Fri, 10 Apr 2026 12:54:46 +0000

Blake Fielder-Civil has waded into the growing debate surrounding Trainspotting, revealing how the cult classic shaped his early curiosity about drugs.

Mr Fielder-Civil criticised the depiction of drugs in the film just weeks before a new stage adaptation sparked backlash over “woke” trigger warnings.

Speaking on the podcast We Need To Talk with Paul C Brunson, Mr Fielder-Civil admitted he was drawn to drug use as a teenager after watching films that portrayed it.

“With regards to drugs, I had always had one of those annoying curiosities,” he said.

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"One of my favourite films was Dazed and Confused… they smoked cannabis in this film and I just thought it was a cool character."

He went on to admit that Trainspotting had an even greater impact on him as a teenager, describing it as his “other favourite film”.

The former drug addict revealed he had “only just started admitting this to myself”.

He said: “I remember thinking that film, unfortunately for me, it had a different effect… I thought that looked interesting.”

When asked directly what appealed to him, Mr Fielder-Civil responded bluntly: “Drug use.”

He was quick to clarify he does not blame the film for his later addiction, despite admitting it provided some inspiration.

He added: “It’s a fantastic film and a great book, I don’t hold it responsible for me doing drugs at all, that was me. I’m just trying to get across that I didn’t have that fear of it."

Mr Fielder-Civil, who has previously admitted to introducing Amy Winehouse to heroin, said his experience with the film has shaped how he now views media as a parent.

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“As a parent, you worry about what your children are thinking when they watch films like this,” he added.

The comments came just three weeks before controversy erupted over the new musical adaptation of Trainspotting, set to open in Theatre Royal Haymarket on London’s West End.

Producers of the show, based on Irvine Welsh’s novel, issued warnings that the over-15 show includes "scenes and depictions of drug taking and death" along with "swearing and adult references."

The notices have been criticised by some theatregoers as excessive, with one branding them “woke utter nonsense” given the source material’s well-known themes.

The original 1996 film, directed by Danny Boyle and starring Ewan McGregor, remains one of Britain’s most iconic and controversial depictions of addiction.

The film follows a group of heroin users in Edinburgh, showing both the highs and lows of addiction, including overdose, illness and psychological trauma.

Despite its bleak subject matter, Trainspotting has long been accused by some critics of glamorising drug culture, a claim its creators have repeatedly rejected.

During the interview, Mr Fielder-Civil revealed he was just 13 when he first began experimenting with cannabis, describing himself as “susceptible” at the time.

“I know that sounds so lame looking back as a 40-year-old man,” he said.

Now in his 40s, Mr Fielder-Civil has said he is attempting to move beyond the guilt surrounding his past, including his turbulent relationship with Ms Winehouse, whose 2006 album Back to Black was heavily inspired by their time together.

GB News has contacted the Theatre Royal Haymarket for comment.