How laughing at Lost Voice Guy: Cruel bullies tormented me when I was a kid
BRITAIN’S Got Talent favourite Lost Voice Guy has revealed he was tormented by bullies when he was a child.
In an exclusive interview with The People, the comedian – real name Lee Ridley – says he used humour to fend off cruel jibes about his cerebral palsy.
And now he’s definitely having the last laugh.
The hopeful is hotly tipped to win the series tonight and could pick up £250,000.
But LVG wants to share his BGT prize money with the care workers who have supported him on his journey to success.
The 37-year-old, who can’t speak but tells jokes on an ipad with a text-to-speech App, has won the hearts of the nation with his disarming tales about living with disability and witty Simon Cowell put-downs.
Talking about his bullies over email, he revealed: “They [kids] didn’t understand cerebral palsy. They probably weren’t being nasty on purpose.
“I think that’s maybe why I started seeing the funny side of my disability. As long as I could laugh at myself, it meant other people couldn’t take the mick.
Educate
“By laughing at myself, I was taking some of the stigma away from my disability.
“I hope that times have changed since I was a kid, and people have a better understanding now. But, by getting up on stage, I hope I’m helping to educate people as well.
“Hopefully a lot of kids will understand disability better after my appearance on the show.”
Lost Voice Guy, who was diagnosed with CP at just six months, has been bombarded with messages from parents of disabled children saying he gives them hope for their kids’ futures.
The Newcastle funnyman said: “It’s so nice to know I’m a source of encouragement to people who are maybe quite worried about their children growing up.
“I’d like to think they can see that anyone can do anything if they want to.”
But he wants to help his care workers. And he hopes to repay them if he bags the £250,000 to- night. He said: “I’d like to help the people who got me to where I am.” I have several support workers who help me get to all of my gigs so I’d like to reward them.
“My family have always supported me as well – and let’s face it, doing stand-up comedy when you can’t even speak is a pretty crazy dream – so I’d buy them all something nice too.”
Tonight Lee is up against fellow comedian Robert White as well as 40s-themed wartime singing group D-day Darlings, Wiggle and Wine star Donchez Dacres, 10-year-old Calum and the DVT dance group.
Britain’s Got Talent is on ITV at 7.30pm.