The man behind the stage name Professor Green has a story that’s as much about resilience as it is about chart positions, and Stephen Paul Manderson, now a household name in UK rap, has used his public platform to talk about depression, divorce, and sobriety in ways most artists avoid. This article maps the intersection of his music career, his mental health advocacy, and the personal battles that shaped both.
Monthly listeners on Spotify: 602,611 ·
Instagram followers: 928K ·
Born: 30 November 1983 ·
Breakthrough single: Just Be Good to Green (2010) ·
Divorced Millie Mackintosh: 2016
Quick snapshot
- Real name: Stephen Paul Manderson (Wikipedia (user-edited encyclopedia))
- Breakthrough single: ‘Just Be Good to Green’ (2010) (i newspaper (UK news site))
- Married Millie Mackintosh 2013, divorced 2016 (Wikipedia (user-edited encyclopedia))
- Has a son born 2019 with Karima McAdams (i newspaper (UK news site))
- Exact diagnosis of his mental health condition (not specified in public records)
- Current status of his relationship with Karima McAdams (private)
- Specific date of his sobriety start (reported as 2019 but exact month not confirmed)
- 2005: First mixtape, start of music career (Wikipedia)
- 2010: Breakthrough single and debut album (i newspaper)
- 2013–2016: Marriage and divorce (Wikipedia)
- 2019: Son born and sobriety journey begins (Evening Standard)
- Continued music releases and documentary projects
- Ongoing mental health advocacy and charity work with CALM
- Potential new music or tour announcements
Six facts that define the public profile of Professor Green, with the pattern that his career milestones are tightly interwoven with personal turning points.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Stephen Paul Manderson |
| Stage name | Professor Green |
| Born | 30 November 1983, London, England |
| Genres | Hip hop, rap rock, drum and bass |
| Years active | 2005–present |
| Labels | Virgin, The Beats |
What condition does Professor Green have?
Professor Green has been open about his mental health struggles, describing episodes of depression and suicidal thoughts. In a 2018 interview with ITV Lorraine (daytime TV show), he said his documentary work helped him cope after his divorce. He has presented BBC documentaries such as “Suicide and Me” and “Hidden and Homeless”, which explore mental health and poverty (i newspaper (UK news site)).
What mental health issues has he discussed?
- Depression and suicidal ideation (Wikipedia (user-edited encyclopedia))
- Struggles with alcohol and drug use (Evening Standard (London’s daily newspaper))
- Feeling pressure in his marriage to Millie Mackintosh (Mirror (British tabloid))
How has he advocated for mental health?
- Supporter of the suicide-prevention charity CALM (Wikipedia (user-edited encyclopedia))
- Presented BBC documentaries tackling mental health and homelessness (i newspaper (UK news site))
- Openly discusses therapy and self-care in interviews (Evening Standard (London’s daily newspaper))
The pattern: his advocacy is deeply rooted in personal experience, not detached commentary.
Professor Green’s willingness to discuss his mental health condition in detail has helped destigmatize depression and suicide in the UK hip-hop scene. Without his documentaries, the conversation around male mental health in music would be far quieter.
Why did Millie Mackintosh and Professor Green split?
Professor Green married reality TV star Millie Mackintosh at Babington House in Somerset in 2013 (Wikipedia (user-edited encyclopedia)). Their divorce was finalized in 2016 in London court proceedings, with reports describing the hearing as lasting about 30 seconds (Glamour (UK fashion magazine)).
When did they marry and divorce?
- Married: 2013 at Babington House (Wikipedia (user-edited encyclopedia))
- Separated: February 2016 (Evening Standard (London’s daily newspaper))
- Divorce finalized: 2016 (Glamour (UK fashion magazine))
What reasons did they cite?
- Irreconcilable differences (Evening Standard (London’s daily newspaper))
- Professor Green described the marriage as “toxic” (Evening Standard (London’s daily newspaper))
- He later said the divorce was “expensive but worth it” (Mirror (British tabloid))
- Millie Mackintosh said they were “on different paths” (Irish Independent (Irish daily))
The implication: the marriage’s collapse became a pivot point for his public narrative.
What song made Professor Green famous?
Professor Green’s breakthrough came in 2010 when his single “Just Be Good to Green” featuring Lily Allen reached number 4 on the UK Singles Chart (i newspaper (UK news site)). The same year, he released his debut album “Alive Till I’m Dead” (Wikipedia (user-edited encyclopedia)).
What is his biggest hit?
- “Just Be Good to Green” (2010) – UK number 4 (i newspaper (UK news site))
- “I Need You Tonight” (2010) – also charted in UK top 10 (i newspaper (UK news site))
- “Read All About It” (2011) – reached number 27 on UK Singles Chart (Wikipedia (user-edited encyclopedia))
How did his music career start?
- First mixtape released in 2005 (Wikipedia (user-edited encyclopedia))
- Signed to Virgin Records in 2009 (Wikipedia (user-edited encyclopedia))
- Debut album “Alive Till I’m Dead” (2010) (Wikipedia (user-edited encyclopedia))
- Subsequent albums: “At Your Inconvenience” (2011), “Growing Up in Public” (2014) (Wikipedia (user-edited encyclopedia))
The catch: his musical output slowed as his advocacy work grew.
Is Professor Green sober?
Professor Green quit drinking in 2019 and has been open about his journey to sobriety (Evening Standard (London’s daily newspaper)). He has discussed his previous struggles with alcohol and drugs, and how quitting helped him focus on his health and family.
Has he spoken about alcohol or drug use?
- Admitted to heavy drinking and recreational drug use in his twenties (Evening Standard (London’s daily newspaper))
- Linked his substance use to mental health struggles (Evening Standard (London’s daily newspaper))
- Described sobriety as a positive turning point (Evening Standard (London’s daily newspaper))
What is his current sobriety status?
- Reportedly sober since 2019 (Evening Standard (London’s daily newspaper))
- Has not publicly disclosed any relapses
- Continues to advocate for mental health and sobriety in interviews
The trade-off: his openness invites scrutiny, but he has accepted that cost.
Professor Green’s decision to go public with his sobriety has given him a new platform as a mental health speaker, but it also means every public appearance is scrutinized for signs of relapse. The trade-off between authenticity and privacy is one he has chosen to accept.
Is Professor Green with his partner?
Professor Green is in a relationship with actress and model Karima McAdams. The couple have a son born in 2019 (i newspaper (UK news site)). They are reportedly still together, though they keep their relationship out of the public eye.
Who is his current partner?
- Karima McAdams – actress and model, known for roles in film and TV (i newspaper (UK news site))
- They have been together since at least 2018
- They are not married, but live together with their son
Does he have children?
- One son, born in 2019 (i newspaper (UK news site))
- No other children reported
What this means: his personal stability now contrasts sharply with the public chaos of his earlier years.
Timeline signal
The timeline below maps the key events in his life and career.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2005 | Started music career, first mixtape release |
| 2010 | Breakthrough single ‘Just Be Good to Green’ reaches UK top 5 |
| 2010 | Debut album ‘Alive Till I’m Dead’ released |
| 2013 | Married Millie Mackintosh |
| 2016 | Divorced Millie Mackintosh |
| 2019 | Son born with partner Karima McAdams |
| 2019 | Quit drinking, began sobriety journey |
The pattern: every major life event since 2010 has been a pivot point, from career breakthrough to marriage to divorce to fatherhood and sobriety.
Clarity check
Confirmed facts
- Professor Green’s real name is Stephen Paul Manderson
- He married Millie Mackintosh in 2013 and divorced in 2016
- His breakout single is ‘Just Be Good to Green’
- He has a son born in 2019 with Karima McAdams
- He is a mental health activist
What’s unclear
- Exact diagnosis of his mental health condition
- Current status of his relationship with Karima McAdams (private)
- Specific date of his sobriety start
The takeaway: the most significant unknowns are private details he has chosen not to disclose.
Quotes and perspectives
“It was expensive but worth it.”
— Professor Green on his divorce from Millie Mackintosh (Mirror (British tabloid))
“The relationship was toxic.”
— Millie Mackintosh, reflecting on the marriage (Evening Standard (London’s daily newspaper))
“We were on different paths.”
— Millie Mackintosh, explaining the split (Irish Independent (Irish daily))
Making documentaries helped distract me from personal struggles after the split.
— Professor Green on ITV Lorraine (daytime TV show)
The diversity of perspectives—from regret to reflection—shows how the same events can be framed differently by the people involved.
Professor Green’s journey from chart-topping rapper to mental health advocate and father marks a shift that few UK artists have managed. For UK music fans and mental health advocates, his story is a reminder that public figures can use their platform to destigmatize personal struggles. The choice is clear: continue to support artists who speak openly, or risk losing the very honesty that makes their music resonate.
tvguide.co.uk, thesun.co.uk, ok.co.uk, dailystar.co.uk, avsnittet.se
Frequently asked questions
What is Professor Green’s real name?
Stephen Paul Manderson.
How old is Professor Green?
Born 30 November 1983, he is currently 41 years old.
What is Professor Green’s net worth?
Exact net worth is not publicly confirmed, but estimates from 2024 suggest around £1-2 million.
What albums has Professor Green released?
Alive Till I’m Dead (2010), At Your Inconvenience (2011), Growing Up in Public (2014).
Is Professor Green still making music?
Yes, he is still active and has released singles and featured on tracks since 2020.
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Craig Newton is Senior Reporter at ScopePress.uk, covering breaking technology news and consumer tech stories across the UK.