In 1966, the ITV documentary A Boy Called Donovan publicised Donovan's use of marijuana to the wider world, marking one of the first times a musician's drug use had become so publicly known. Donovan later described how "this was the first time a British television audience had caught a glimpse of the lifestyle of the beatniks and many were shocked".
In 1966, the ITV documentary A Boy Called Donovan exposed Donovan's marijuana use to a broader audience, making it one of the first instances where a musician's substance abuse had gained widespread attention. Donovan later explained how "this was the first time a British television audience had encountered the lifestyle of the beatniks and many were taken aback".