No matter how you’re born, you can overcome it

X Factor star’s boost for kids with cleft palate

X Factor star Danny Tetley has been reaching out to children with cleft palates because of the bullying he went through at school.

Big-hearted Danny, 38, who was born with a cleft lip and palate, has been video calling ecstatic children with the same condition between shows.

Four-year-old William Stotty, his number one fan, beamed with joy when he talked to Danny and told his mum: ‘He’s just like me!’’

Danny told how he reached out because bullies had taunted him about his looks.

The singer endured eight operations before he was 12 and hundreds of hospital visits.

He became the first child in the UK to have a set of false teeth at 18 months.

“I’d go shopping with my mum and I was always getting stared at,” he said. “People would ask, ‘What’s wrong with his face?’ I got that up until I was 10 years old, bullying and name calling.

“Every month up until I was 18, I had to go to the facial unit and orthodontist, so this was happening all through school, which had a big effect on me.”

Sister Leanne, 42, of Bradford, West Yorks, tried to defend him from bullies who called him “square face” and “flat nose”.

“Kids were so cruel and ignorant,” she said. “He hated going to school. Music was his therapy and escape.” Danny said: “I was born in 1980, kids were less accepting. People can be cruel when you look different. This is why I want to raise awareness for the condition.”

Recently he called William, who refuses to take off Danny’s T-shirt and tells everyone about his “new best friend”.

Danny, of Benidorm, said: “William got in touch saying I was his hero. On the first live show I sang Mariah Carey’s Hero for him.

“I had sent him a T-shirt and his family sent a video of him in it and we ended up face timing. “I’ve received so many messages from cleft palate patients so I recorded videos of thanks.

“Being on The X Factor gives me a platform to help people on a bigger scale to show people no matter how you are born, you can overcome it.”

He told how presenter Carol Vorderman, whose brother has a cleft lip, had sent him a “wonderful” message of support.

William’s mum, Lucy Stotty, 35, of Durham, said she is staggered by his kindness.

She said: “When Danny called him he was in awe.

“He said, ‘Hi William, my little best friend’. He was crying, I was tearful, William was overjoyed.

“His six-year-old brother wants to go on X Factor, now William’s saying it too. It’s humbling to know Danny cares.”