I HAVE BATTLED RACISM ALL MY LIFE
Weatherman Alex refused to let abuse hold him back
WEATHERMAN Alex Beresford has told how he refused to let racist abuse stop him becoming a star.
The Dancing on Ice hunk, 37, has been the target of taunts throughout his life – and wants to speak out to help youngsters facing similar torment.
In an exclusive chat, Alex said: “When I was a kid we used to go on holiday to Devon. It was the 80s and at that time you might be the only mixed-race family on the beach. People would look at us differently.
“My family got quite a bit of racial abuse. The idea of political correctness didn’t exist… People were able to say things and get away with it.
“And then as I was growing up I wore hoodies and had gold chains… All those things people get intimidated by. I’d notice I’d be walking towards someone and they’d grab their handbag…They’d hold it a bit tighter as you passed, thinking you might take it.” Defiant Alex made history when he went on to become ITV’s first black national weather reporter, but he was still subjected to ignorant comments.
He said: “When I first got my job I had people ask me to my face, ‘Do you think you got your job because of the colour of your skin?’. That’s a hard question to answer. I did think, did it play a part?. But I decided I would prove to people that I can do the job. It motivated me.
“Even now I’ll get racial abuse on Twitter. It can be very hurtful. It does upset me. People say horrible things behind a keyboard. It definitely hurts. It’s never nice to be called the N word or anything else.”
Good Morning Britain host Alex is determined to give young men of colour someone to look up to. In 2007 he was picked for a network of national black role models which saw him meet youngsters in prisons and young offenders’ institutes. He said: “At that time there were so many negative images of young black boys in the media that we felt it needed to be balanced out.
“We wanted to overturn the stereotypical image that you see too often in the media – young black boys being pulled over by the police or their mugshots on the news because they’ve done something bad.
“If the only time people see an ethnic minority is in a negative light then they will start to associate them with that. Our remit was to inspire young black boys aged between 11 and 25. We delivered workshops on aspiration. I love giving back.”
The project was scrapped in 2010 but Alex has continued to visit schools to inspire young people.
He added: “It’s important to share my story with people who have a similar background. It’s about instilling in people from disadvantaged backgrounds that you can dream beyond the horizon.
“Next time I do a school tour I can say I fulfilled one of my dreams by doing Dancing on Ice. It shows persistence pays off.”
Viewers will see Alex battle for survival on Dancing on Ice tonight alongside pro partner Brianne Delcourt.