"If you don't try, you'll end up like Willard" his teacher used to say to the rest of his classmates. At the age of five years old, yet to be diagnosed with autism, Willard Wigan had had enough. He was fedup of being used as the example of failure. His teachers told him he'd never be able to read and called him 'Blackie'. So one day Willard ran away. He ran to a lake and discovered a world of insects, dragonflies and ants and became obsessed with the 'Small World'. After showing off an Ant...

Growing up in a poor area of South East London, Tom's life seemed written on the wall. He was a scaffolder, labourer and was used to hard graft and long hours. But he dreamed of something different. To his friends amusement, he wanted to break out of life on the building site and start a career on stage. Yet, it seems Tom had the last laugh. From humble beginnings he started appearing on TV and onstage as a comedian, eventually becoming the leading role, DI Sleet in BBC three comedy 'Murder...

Dougray Scott takes time out from his busy schedule in LA tom talk to Tamer about his life growing up and how he became shortlisted as the next James Bond. Growing up in a poor Scottish community and not getting on well at school, it seemed as if Dougray was destined for a hard working life to make ends meet. His Parents encouraged him to get into a trade, but Dougray had his sights set on acting. Despite the challenges of raising twins and going through divorce, he became a recognised...

Youtube star Aaron Crascall talks to Tamer about his rise to fame, the times he was bullied at school and how he was driven to the top of multi storey car park to take his own life. Hear Aaron's touching moments as he breaks down in front of Tamer, remembering his Dad and facing the tough times in his life. And discover the strength and resilience Aaron has to give a better start to his kids lives, while supporting his mother through her grief and his partner in parenting his three...

Behind the glossy pop star image, Lee Ryan has been through tougher times than you might expect. Growing up in a deprived community in South East London, Ryan's freedom to roam sometimes meant he saw more than he should. Like the time his friends Dad attempted to murder his daughter with a shotgun and then took his own life in the middle of the street, or the time his next door neighbour was found brutally murdered. These traumas led to a complicated relationship with drugs and alcohol,...

Boxers come from humble beginnings, and none are more humble than those of Big Joe Egan. His career has achieved the near impossible. From an unknown name in Ireland, he became Mike Tyson's sparring partner and by the age of 24 he was winner of the Golden Gloves with an impressive 80 wins to his name. Joe went on to go the distance with Lennox Lewis three times and then win against heavyweight champion Bruce Seldon and sealed his name, but behind all his successes are some deeply disturbing...

Calum Best, son of the famous footballer George best talks to tamer about his struggle to find a relationship with his dad. Calum remembers how he had to learn quickly how to negotiate with his father's alcoholism in order to find a bond with his father. In this heartfelt episode, we hear how Calum started drinking in his early teens to impress his father, dancing on tables with models as a teenager and fighting in pub brawls side by side with his Dad. He reveals how painful his father's...

Growing up in the 70's was a different experience. Sure there was more freedom but the lack of PC culture meant there was always the smouldering threat of child abuse, sexualisation and racism that kids sometimes had to negotiate. Omid recounts how his loving family did their best to integrate into UK society, using football, tea and biscuits as building blocks to make friends. Yet a more intolerant 1970's England didn't like his families cooking, the busy family life with lots of visitors...

Ex-Footballer, coach and television presenter Jimmy Bullard meets Tamer to talk about his childhood and formative years. He reveals how his Mum and Dad's support led him to achieve more than his skill alone could allow.He freely admits that if it weren't for his Dad's belief in him, he probably wouldn't have become a professional footballer. It's a high bar to pass to his kids, who he also wants bro have the same fortunate start in life he enjoyed. Jimmy looks back at the difficult times...

Grime sensation, author and Tv presenter Big Narstie talks to Tamer (Pop's as Big calls him) about growing up and breaking into becoming one of the biggest names in Grime. Big explains how growing up poor in South Eat London provided challenges, how he met inspiration in a detention centre and found purpose that later led to great success. And of course, Big talks about CBD and his understanding of the benefits of Cannabis in pain relief and better living. Listen and subscribe now, on...

Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh talks to Tamer about growing up in the deprived suburbs of Edinburgh, losing his Dad and going off the rails in his early twenties, beating heroine addiction to turn his life around and getting bored with living a 'normal' life. After surviving a near fatal bus crash and an electric shock that left him unable to use his arm, he left a burgeoning DJ'ing career to pursue his love of writing. His experiences gave birth to the infamous book and subsequent movie...

Right before lockdown started, Ray went to Sicily and shortly after, found himself stuck in a villa on a mountainside waiting for the next plane home. In a rare interview during lockdown, Tamer hears how Ray grew up in the East end, working on market stalls and down the docks with his Dad, Uncles and family friends. He loved his family life and recounts how he misses his Dad's hollering now he is sadly departed. Ray explains how he got into acting, how he found his breaks and his Dad's...

Love Island contenstant and self made entrepreneur Belle Hassan talks to her father about family life and the hardships of adolescence in the age of social media. Tamer's daughter recounts touching moments when she felt guilty about lying to her dad, the secret trips they took together to the pet store to get hamsters and the traumatic times she went through, leading her to self harm and consider suicide. Belle has emerged from the other side of her mental health crisis, but she hasnt...

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