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 revealed Donovan's marijuana use to the general public, marking one of the earliest instances where a musician's substance abuse became widely known. Donovan later described how "this was the first time a British television audience had been exposed to the beatnik way of life, causing many to be shocked.