I'm absolutely thrilled and excited to have Sam Thompson here. He's an incredible person, full stop. He's incredible for being an ambassador for ADHD UK. He's incredible for what he's doing and talking about having ADHD. He doesn't really need an introduction. He's incredible. Welcome, Sam.

Mate, what an absolute honor, Henry. Thank you so much for having me. I've got to say it's it's the the the past sort of year that year over a year that we've been working together, mate, has been nothing but a privilege. So thank you for having me.

Honestly, it's it's hard. Look. I gotta thank you first for being an ambassador for ADHD UK. It's a huge deal, but it's an ambassador for everyone with ADHD. It's a big deal. You speak out for people with ADHD that you share your experience, that you help people feel less alone and and, you know, you're well, an exemplar. It's wonderful to see someone doing so well and having ADHD and talking about it. It's I also need to thank you for for making us your charity for Deal or No Deal. Oh, yeah.

Mate, of course. Of course. I think we won what did we win? Like, $16.16 grand, I think. Think $16.5.

It's such a big deal for us. Like, it's such a big deal. Like and honestly, it funds literally funds all our support groups. We're around fifty month. Like, it's a we are a small charity that does a lot and we stretch money because we have to because it's hard to raise money for ADHD. Like, know, many people don't tell close friends or family, let alone tell acquaintances and shake it in. And.

Yeah, we don't get any government funds. Every so everything is personal donations. So your donation is, like, in what you did was a big deal and has supported an enormous amount of work. Well, mate, I I just wanna say sort of for for, you know, anything else. I I I said this to you just before. Like, I I think this is just the beginning, man. I I think we can do so much, and and I want to do so so much with you guys and and and raise as much money as I possibly can. So, yeah, that's that's just the beginning, mate. I I I promise you we will do even more.

Thank you. I look forward to it, and it's, yeah, it's very exciting. Thank you. We've got a little clip to remind you of Neil that it didn't deal or no deal. Oh, really? That's great.

For everyone in the ADHD world, you do amazing things. The first box of the night.

Come on, Dane. Show us a blue. Let's get us off to a nice start. Come on, Dean. Come on, Dean. Come on, Dean. No.

I can't believe it.

One's okay for the charity tonight. Good man, James. Come on.

Yes. Yes.

Come on.

He's now doubled your last offer to £8,250. Think about that money and your charity.

Okay. I just that's a lot of cash. That's a lot of cash, and that that you can do so much with that money. Alright. Ask me a question. Okay. Yeah.

£8,250. Deal or no deal?

No deal, Louise.

And now remember, we mustn't touch the 50 or the 75,000. Yeah.

Oh my god. It's gonna be a low blue. Yes.

Please be Yes.

Oh my god.

I hate it. I actually can't believe it. I know how much this means to your charity, and I know they'll You've come here to help your charity out. Yeah. Because of your bravery and you did go on even when some people said don't, he's now offering to buy your box for £16,500.

16,000 Good job. £500.

Oh, god.

I wouldn't take the deal. I know how much this means to you, man. And I'll back you up a 100% of the way. You know that no matter what. Right. I am ready for the question.

£16,500.

Deal or no deal?

Deal. You are taking away £15,500. Let's go for it. It's too much. Do know what? It's because I'm looking at it, and I and I I'm seeing numbers on a screen as much as I love this game. And all I wanna do is carry on. It's about the charity. Oh, mate.

Thank Yes. You. Thank you. That was wonderful and terrifying. Terrifying.

Dude, wait. I tell you right now. When when when when Louise said take take it, I went no. And then she opened the box with, like I think it was, like, 70,000. I was like, oh, no. The panic that I felt, mate, I was like, what is gonna happen now? But, mate, it was just yeah. It was it was such a great feeling to be able to like, I wish I'd got more, but it was such a great feeling to be able to to do that. And, actually, there's, yeah, there's gonna be so many more times, mate, that I'm gonna be able to, I think, raise raise money. So I cannot wait for the next chance. I can't wait.

Well, look. Thank you. It's like, you know, it's huge. It's that money again. It helps us keep the small groups funds the support groups. It helps us with our campaigns and awareness and understanding and positive change for ADHD. That's our, you know, I think a shared mission we we both have. Right. On to questions.

Yeah. Go on, mate. Shoot from the head. What do you got?

Right. We've got a shared mission for positive change for people with ADHD. You've been out looking, it's wonderful. You've you've actually you've said you want change for ADHD to be your legacy. Why is it that important to you personally?

So it's if you would ask me this after I did the documentary about ADHD, I probably would have had a different answer. But it was weird. It was and since I came out the jungle, it was just the most amazing experience meeting people who I don't know if you watched I'm a Celeb, but but I I I spoke to Marvin when I was in there. You don't know what's being filmed, you don't know what's being edited together and stuff like that. And Marvin's got three young kids, and and he was asking about how, you know, how it was for me and what it was like growing up with ADHD and, you know, not knowing until late on in life and stuff. He was just genuinely inquisitive as to what it was like, as he's such a great guy and he just wanted to know.

And that got played out in front of the nation, and, I had no idea. And then when I came out, the the the biggest surprise I got wasn't anything to do with winning the show. It was the community that surrounded neurodiversity and the positive change that one conversation, that one conversation on a national TV show I had. It it it it's the the amount of parents who came up, with their kids sometimes being like, my child is has been, like, ashamed of having ADHD. And, you know, after watching that thing on I'm a Celeb and watching you and stuff like that, like, they've completely changed their perspective. Like, that feeling of if we if I can do that, what like, if that much has changed in a positive way from one conversation on one TV show.

Like, it just and and and the and the difference that it seems to have made in, like, a few of these kids' lives, I I it's just it's just it I've never felt like that before. I've never felt community like that before, and I've never felt family like that before. And it's literally just made me so laser focused in wanting that to be my my why.

Yeah. That's it. Like, you know, we spend our time just being Two told secs, mate.

Two secs. Sorry, mate. Everyone's just rolled into my door. Sorry. Carry on, brother. No.

That was wonderful. And, like, you know, we spend our time being told we're broken. Right? Like, that we're failures, that we're not doing it right or, like, that we're just lazy. We need to back up and Yeah. It's it's a problem and and not getting to see people talking honestly about it, how hard it is, like, you're talking about how people can with neurodiversity, with ADHD, that they can be amazing and do amazing things.

Well, do you know what as well, man? I I I really think that you've hit the nail on the head about, you know, people, especially young kids, mate, being told that they can't do things. That, like and being told they're, like, they're, like, naughty or they're not listening or that, you know, their energy is wrong and all these kind of things. And this is something that happened to me at school when I'm 33. I think I was the last generation of, like, no one really understanding it at all, and and sort of just calling you naughty in school. And it made me feel so bad about myself. And to like, I I I remember when I got diagnosed with it, the lady goes, can't believe this because I'm not really a crier.

And I was when the documentary has been filmed and we finally got the diagnosis, we sit there and she's literally like, okay. You have ADHD. And I was like, okay. I said to the producers that I'm not gonna cry. I promise you I'm not gonna cry. Like, this isn't gonna be one of those sort of, like, TV moments where I, like, I shed a tear. And As he goes, you're a very special boy, and I hope you realize that you can forgive yourself for, like, things that other people might have said about you. Man, I burst into tears, Henry. I literally burst in tears. I was like, I can't I just didn't expect to, and I did. And it I felt this massive weight off my shoulders.

The amount of times at school that I'd been told, like, I was naughty or that, like, my energy was off or as I said, I'm not concentrating or, you know, my homework's not working because I'm not working properly. And, like, I'd get in so much trouble, and and it just made me feel so much better about myself. And then, obviously, when you're doing the doc and you realize it's so hard to get an ADHD diagnosis on the NHS, and it can be up to anything over two years, May. And if you wanna go Oh, no. It can be it can be over ten years. May, I obviously thought that. I mean, god. Jeez. I know, over ten years, mate, dude, do wanna go private? It's thousands of pounds. Like, it's it.

Might it must feel and I've spoken to so many people where it just must feel so hopeless. The in a very long winded answer to your first question, it's like with all of that said, you know, that I I I would really like a legacy of mine if I can to be to to bring as much attention to that as possible in whatever small voice I have. So, yeah, that's kind of the why.

It's yeah. Look. It's a yeah. The one is a big voice, and, and it's it's wonderful, and it it's important, yeah, in those different aspects, the aspects of making helping people feel good about themselves and knowing that they can be great and being that that role model to look up to, but it's also highlighting the issues and going, there's huge problems here. People waiting over ten years. You've got people when their kids have when they come out of camps at 18, they age out and suddenly they're on medication, it stops. And they're at the back of the adult queue. If you move area.

So in the NHS, you have to get reassessed every time. So if you move area, you're at the back of the queue again. Wow. Didn't know that. So you can't pursue Why is that? Further education. You can't pursue new jobs. You're you are locked where you are because the system is so badly thought through, like, and and badly resourced. Like, it's it's good, honestly. Like, it it's it's and the the life impacts that that has is insane.

Do you know what, mate? I it's it's interesting you say that because I come at ADHD in quite an aggressive form. Like, for example, you know, whenever parents speak to me about their kids having ADHD, they, you know, they're like, oh, you know, as I said earlier, know, sometimes they feel like they're embarrassed or ashamed. And it makes you really freaking sad because I'm like, I don't want you to feel embarrassed. I don't want you to feel ashamed. I want you to feel like this is something that is, like, you know, it's it's part of you. It's who you are, that's not always a negative. So what I sometimes do is overcompensate.

And I, you know, I I like to sit there and tell them it's a superpower. Right? And because I I genuinely believe it can be. I I think that if you can if you can laser focus on something that you adore, some sort of subject or industry that you adore or hobby that you love, and I think you can if you could put your if you could channel that ADHD into that, I think you'll be better than ninety nine point nine percent of other people. But having said that, you know, the the the struggles that people have as well are very, very real. And, I suppose trying to balance that conversation isn't really with I don't be ashamed.

Because, you know, there are there are beautiful things that I believe, and I know it's just a personal opinion, but I believe come with ADHD. Beautiful things that, you know, I'm not I I couldn't be the person I am today, and I'm pretty proud of myself if I didn't have ADHD. But that's, you know, you know, that that's I've got luxuries, man. Like, I'm I'm I'm a very I've I've got the the luxury of doing a job that I adore. I've got the luxury of of having sort of family and friends who understand my diagnosis and work with me on my diagnosis. And, you know, when I do jobs, you understand. And and and most people don't have that luxury.

And I think it's important to show that as well and, you know, and talk about that and and how debilitating it can be for people. And it's sort of it isn't it? It's trying to sort of, like, talk about both sides of the coin.

It is. And and the superpower, like, the the the it's important to say people with ADHD can be amazing, and you're an example of that and and can get and saying and there there is that positive to superpower. Like and as you kind of reflect it, then there are some people who are feeling it's so tough. You can feel quite angry if people are going like, you look, you're you've got a superpower, and you're like, like, now I just not only is life really awful, but now I feel like I'm failing at having my disability because I don't feel super. One of the ways we try and reframe that conversation is just to say, yeah. Absolutely. But let's talk about the kryptonite.

Let's talk about what's stopping you being super, and let's get rid of that. Let's let's help you, and let's help you get to get to your amazing A really good point. Why? Thank you. You talked about you as being a kid there, and you've talked previously about your schoolwork as a child, that it was horrible, that you talked about crying into your textbooks, distracted by everything, even the words on the in the book, and thinking, I'm never going to understand or revise for anything. I suppose I want to ask, do you think that being diagnosed as a kid would have made a difference to your life today? And, like, thinking of of young Sam struggling with his homework, like, what would he say? What would he say to.

I would say it would have made a massive difference. I really do believe that as well. Think I it would have made a huge, huge difference in my life. You know, teachers being able to sort of work with what I had would have been so great. It was my mental health that sort of took such a big hit because as I said earlier, like, you you get told that you're not good enough. You're not trying hard enough enough times. You believe it, and you're like, oh god. Like, I'm just broken.

And for me, it was it was all about forgiving myself. Still trying my best and applying myself the best, but also forgiving myself. And I think I would have been a lot more forgiving. I think the teachers would have been a lot more forgiving on me as well. And I think we could have, you know, gone into classes and and revision and homework maybe a little bit differently, and, you know, structured what I had to do a little bit differently to maybe what a neurotypical person would have to do. And and I think it would have really, really helped. I don't think it would have been the be all and end all. Of course not. You know? I am still who I am, and.

You know, I I would still be you know, make mistakes as well and all this other kind of stuff. It wouldn't be plain sailing, but I definitely think it would have helped a lot.

The mental health aspects of so we see with ADHD regularly people having diagnosis treatment of years, sometimes decades for depression, for anxiety, and the toll of undiagnosed ADHD. We have a very high suicide rate. One in ten men or boys with ADHD who at some point try and take their own life. It is one in four one in four women or girls with ADHD who at some point try and take their own life. For the first two years of the charity, we're most exclusively funded by parents whose children had completed suicide. Wow. And it's that mental health toll is a big that you just referred to as a big, big deal. And when people are like, oh, you know, ADHD is not that big a deal, like, just get over yourself. Like, you're very angry.

Yeah. Right. Mean, of course, you can I I I can only you know, I I know? I've I've been there. It it it it's one of those things where it no one understand. It's so hard to understand. It's very hard to make people understand as well. You know, people go, just get over it. You know, it is what it is. So, no, but it's not. It it it my life. And and and, you know, that I I obviously have ADHD. It's impacted every aspect of my life. Every every aspect of my life is is is at least touched by my ADHD. And you almost feel even I we and I'm, you know, known for it. I still get a little bit embarrassed maybe by being like, oh, sorry. It's my ADHD. I feel I don't know why. But I still sometimes do feel like, oh, god. I shouldn't be.

Being like, sorry. It's my ADHD. Like and and and I don't like the feeling of that, actually. And I think I need to be a little bit more honest with the fact that it does touch my every life. And because it they really, really does. And, sorry for swearing. And it's, I think it's really important that people who are neurotypical who don't who don't really understand it, understand that it's all encompassing. It's not just one avenue of your life. It is everything in your life, and and I think that that's a really big awareness that we need to get out there.

It is. And and that you can't choose it like, okay. Right. We've got this intense thing going, I can just turn off my ADHD for a while. Yeah. Yeah. You know what? I've got a job that me that means that I have to be ADHD right this second. Okay. Cool. Switch it on. Like, that's not how that's what I was don't be wrong. There will be times where I will do a job, and then I will be like, oh, do know what? Actually, excitable and energetic and really all over the place has been a really good thing for that job that I've done. But guess what? I get home and I crash or I I I, you know, I I have sort of like I'm I'm all over the place. And most of the time, well, I try and, you know, pay a parking ticket, and I and I can't do it. I have a complete breakdown. Like.

The, you know, my the arguments I've got in from not being able to focus on a conversation and, like, not being able to sit still. I I've I've been chastised for, like, fidgeting at dinner before at, like, a dinner party with, like, work colleagues because I can't sit still. And and you're like, I don't know what I can do. Like, it's just I I physically can't sit here for as long as that. And and I'm, you know, I'm making this about me, but, like, yeah, it's it's I know exactly what you mean when it's the all encompassing thing. You can't turn it off.

Yeah. And yeah. Yeah. And thank you for sharing that about you. Yeah. Certainly, like, says putting down the pen he was playing with. Yeah. Yeah. He's constantly with these sunnies. Nice. We skip the, you know, the question to young Sam struggling to do his homework. What what would you say to Sam? What I say to Sam, I would say that be kinder to yourself.

I would say that you are, I think, a decent human being and that even though, you know, you're being told at this moment in time maybe you're you're, you know, wrong and that you're not, and that there are there is a reason for who you are. Your brain is wired differently than than certain other people, and, you know, be kind to yourself because I think I really wasn't kind to myself when I was a kid, because of the things I was being told about myself. And that would be the main thing I would say to myself. Be kind to yourself. And, and also, actually, I just didn't realize that the community and the people who had what I had.

Until I did I'm a celeb. And, and I came out of that, and I just feel like I'm part of such an amazing community. And that was something that I think I'd say to my younger self as well is you're not you're not feeling this way alone. You are you there are there are many, many, many, many, many other people who are feeling exactly the way you are, if not a lot harder, and you're you're in it together. You know?

The I just got honestly I I just that's when you said, like, I wasn't sure I was a decent human being. Yeah. That's brutal.

Yeah, mate. It's it's I'm sure we've all I'm sure you felt that. I felt that. Like, everyone feels that. You feel like you're a terrible student, son, like, all of these things. And you feel like, I remember the reason I did the documentary was because I was like, I need to find out, like, what kind of person am I? And and that's probably why I cried when I got told with my diagnosis because I genuinely was starting to think that, you know, I all of these faults in me was unique to me and and that I was somehow broken. And and and it was a really horrible feeling, to be honest.

Yeah. It's an important point. So you just talked about the diagnosis. Like, lots of people think that people are getting ADHD diagnosis because they're just they're just worried well, you know, just a bit forgetful, struggling. Yeah. Maybe struggling to concentrate a bit too much energy. And that it's not that that serious. And the the the truth is that getting a diagnosis like, you you do it because it's having ADHD. It's having a significant impact on on you. You know, to your to an outsider, your life looked amazing. So why did you go get that diagnosis?

Well, one of the reasons was what I just said is that I didn't feel like the best possible version of myself. I didn't feel like the best human being. I think I was getting told quite a lot, you know, that I I wasn't. And another thing was I was I you know, I'm getting to an age where I want a family and kids. And I think knowing a lot about yourself when you are going through sort of, like, you know, wanting to have these things in your life, I think you need to know as much about yourself as you possibly can. And I felt like there were so many unanswered questions about who I was and so many confusing aspects of my personality that I didn't understand myself. And I'd I it was scary not knowing yourself and not understanding yourself. And.

I thought to myself, I wanna I want for the sake of other people and mainly for myself, I wanna I wanna know who I am, and I wanna know what what is going on with me. And I just thought as as I'm getting older, I I have to do this. It was something I had to do, and and I was so lucky, mate, the fact that I got to do this diagnosis through a documentary which fast tracked so much for me. I mean, it wasn't lost on me. Like, you just said, it could be years, mate, to get a diagnosis, and I was incredibly fortunate by that. Really, really, really lucky. And it was it was and I hope I really hope that documentary helped people.

I I thought it I obviously went and rewatched it for this, and I I was just so touched by it. It's an it's an incredible documentary. It's an Thank you very important. Talking of it, you've spoken about your mom getting a lot of flack about saying she didn't want you to get a diagnosis because she didn't want you to get a label. And little did at that time, did she know that you'd come back not only with one label, but three? Usually two. So ADHD, autism in a in a tick.

I think they're good standard overachievement there. So good work. Yeah. Yeah. As always, just never just one. They come in threes.

There is a thing though. Right? This idea that the label is more damaging than the condition than the damage of the knowledge. Like, what do you have to say to parents worried about the ADHD label?

You know what? It's it's a weird one because I my my honest opinion of this of of of having ADHD and and my parents' view on it might be a little bit different. It might differ to what you may think. But I actually have a lot of empathy towards my mom, and have a lot of empathy towards my dad. And the reason is, Sam Thompson, my cousin. The reason I have that is because they grew up in a completely different time, and they're we're so lucky. I mean, there's so much more work to be done. There's so much more awareness.

To be built. I mean, we're not even we haven't even scratched the surface, man. I think we're both in agreement with that. We got so much more to do, and I can't wait to die like, dive in and try and get that you know, try and do as much as I can. But I know that my dad, for example, his teachers had just fought a war. Like, they just landed on the beaches of Normandy, and, like, they though those were his teachers. And, you know, life to them was so much different, and they didn't have the luxury of being able to be in a time of peace and a time of, like, let's actually introspect, and let's figure out what's going on with the human beings that are in our society. You know? They they were from a completely different time period.

And that's not my parents' fault. And I I have a lot of empathy towards them. I don't agree. And and and to be fair, my parents actually now, they know so much more about it. They're completely on board, and they completely understand. And bless my mom. She's done so much work to try and understand what I have. And but I perhaps I I had at the time when they were like, oh, the label, I don't want you to have this. I don't want you to have that. Like, stiff upper lip and all that kind of stuff. I have empathy towards it because I'm like, you know what? It's you you're a different time. Like, you you can't I can't expect you.

To to to just, like, understand what it is that we're discussing now because in your generation, you never did discuss that. And I hope that we look at people who don't understand it with a degree of empathy if they're from the older generation because, you know, they didn't have that that that time to discuss these kind of things. But in terms of labels, I I hate the way there is a label to it. I wish it was just like, yeah. You just learn differently or you just just have a different way of you of of being coded instead of, like, you have, like it's almost, looked down upon.

And I can't understand why that is. Like, it makes me really sad when kids are, like, embarrassed about the label that is ADHD, and it's like, I'm think I you're beautiful. I think they're gonna you can achieve anything you want. And I think we've a long, long way to go with that, to be honest.

We do. And talking of this of generation coming out of out of the war, I did an interview with BBC Manchester a couple of weeks ago, and the the interview there in their seventies, and one of the questions was, like, you know, I where does ADHD come from? Like, what didn't you know, basically, it wasn't a thing in my day. And I said to him, well, neither was PTSD. Like Yeah. Neither was and dementia was just old people getting old. It wasn't a disease or a condition that we can Yeah. Start to look to treat. The menopause was just.

That's so interesting. That's so interesting.

And he said, my my dad had PTSD and from the war, and he self medicated with alcohol. And I totally get what you're saying. And it it totally that that analogy sort of allows him to sort of understand and and to put talking directly to that sort of war, that lack of understanding. Like, there's there's a exact example. Yeah. Look. The label the only reason the label is an issue is because the stigma around ADHD Yeah. That's put on it. Otherwise, it wouldn't be in and Pete actually in the in the documentary gives you advice on it. He says, when you're you're talking about being worried and he says, but, like, it doesn't change you. You remain you. You just know a bit more about you. It's Mhmm. Doesn't make any actual difference.

And if there's something school's all about. It's that knowledge is good and that, you know, you have to understand yourself to succeed. Like, is critical understanding. And without it, we see so many people flounder and struggle.

Yeah. It's it's so true. I think that, you know, knowing about yourself, especially when there's so much to know with us, you know, and, like, as you say, it's it's it's it's in your everyday life. And if you don't, that's know, you're asking me about why I went and got the diagnosis. I mean, god, I I would I would still be wondering and floundering, as you said, and and not and not fully understanding who I am. I'm I'm just so grateful that I've got it. And the fact there's so many people who are still waiting, who need a diagnosis more than I did, It makes me really sad, actually, and it makes me it's just yeah. It just makes me wanna do what I can because.

I've met a lot of these people, man. Like, I've met a lot of people on the street. I met a lot of people in in just various places that I go, and there's a lot of people who are struggling. And then a ten year diagnosis, mate, I mean, there's something going massively wrong with that.

There is. And, obviously, that could be part of what we're doing, and your support is is helping do this campaign to to talk about that and highlight it. And that's something this is playing out in the global conference. It's something we're gonna be talking about directly during the conference. You talked then just about how hard it's is, and you've you've talked specifically about how hard things are sometimes for you. You've talked about being close to being overwhelmed. You've talked about needing hours on your own when you come home to to decompress, about having a panic attack on the first day of the jungle. Yeah. I think these are things that people don't you know, they they don't see or don't know so much about.

If you're talking to someone struggling with their ADHD, with their neurodiversity and having similar challenges, what would you say to them?

I'm super lucky. I've got an amazing friendship group of people who understand or at least try and understand what it is that I have. I would say that if you're lucky enough to have people you talk to about that, then absolutely do. I mean, I mean, that that that example in the jungle was was terrifying because I was sat there going, I'm gonna piss people off. I was like, I know I am. I was like, I feel like I'm gonna be I've already been too much. I'm too excited. I'm too energetic. I can't sit down. I'm here. I'm there. I'm everywhere. I'm left and right. I'm gonna annoy people, and it really scared me. And then I I got to be friends with people like Marvin Hughes who who were just so.

Accepting of who I am. I'm friends with Pete who who is so accepting of who I am as a person. And to be around people who accept who you are, I think, is just so vitally important, but we don't all have that. We don't all have people that we can be around, and and that's why I think ADHD UK is so vital, mate. And this isn't just me saying it for the sake of saying To be in a community of people, to be able to go online on Instagram and and and and see all the people who interact and and the community that, you know, that you've built, mate, is is is beautiful. And I would say go and talk to people who are going through the same thing. I think it's so important to know that you're not alone. I think it's if if not the most important thing.

No. I absolutely agree. Look. We've got and people watching, we've got all our support groups. Majority are done virtually, and they're all free, but donate if you can. We don't put a financial barrier to you getting going and talking to people. Yeah. It's it's things like support that allows us to do that. So it's a big big deal. I absolutely I've learned a lot from talking to people and felt less alone and and stopped feeling, yeah, stupid or daft or lazy. You I just understand, like, having other people talk. You talked about supportive people and and community, and you built your own community. And I had the pleasure of watching you on stage at the o two.

No. I didn't even know you came. It was wonderful. I like it. Honestly, it was wonderful. Honor. What an honor to have you there.

I like all mine, and and I can't you did an incredible you kept the the probably energy of all the wonderful things. The what is it? Your seventh world record. Yeah. I just just just a delight. Did you did you enjoy it? I really did. I loved it. It's just the and I loved.

Literally we went all on the on the on the broom, on the world record, but it was that's exactly what we wanted. We were like, we just want this to be a once in a lifetime sort of, like, just bucket list thing to tick off, and that's what we did.

It was wonderful. Although, when you say once in a lifetime.

Well, you know, it's never I don't want. So, Ron, you this yeah. And this is where I think, you know, this is where I think the ADHD helps me because I'm sitting there, I'm already thinking I'm overthinking about the next thing. I'm hyper focused on Wembley, mate. Like, that's that's 80,000 people. That's a bit big difference in the o two. But I've already been like, how do we make it work? How do we do it? Like and, yeah, I do that will not be the end of it. Just yeah. Fabulous. So glad you came, mate. That's a real honor to to to have you there. Oh, no. It was an honor to be there. Like, honestly, we've.

Talked often, and you've talked, you know, about back on questions. Can you tell the, like, like, a weird question? But alright. Look. You talked about the show's wonderful. You talked about masking camouflaging with neurodivergence, like, trying to put on the putting in the face, seeming capable and calm and but often feeling scattered and exhausted, Always feeling on for others. I think a lot of neurodivergent people feel like that. Like, is that something Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. I think I I mask a lot. And it's sorry, sweating. It's really tiring. Sometimes my my my energy you you know this. Everyone who's got ADHD knows this is that you you you can switch you switch on and you're like, okay. I know what I feel like I should be doing in this social situation with these kind of people, so I'm going to do it, but it's not me. So you're literally spending your entire day or night. I spent I spent weeks pretending to be someone I'm not because I thought that's better than what I am and who I am and what I have. And my the mental taxation, the burnout that I've got and I've had from that, it's it's no. I don't do it anymore.

Actually, I I I'm I'd I'd it's a promise that I made myself actually is that I would I mean, look. We always mask at some points, but, like, I try my hardest not to. It's really hard in social space, especially in this industry. But I'm really trying not to mask because I I get so drained, man. I get so drained by it.

Yeah. No. It's it's it's extraordinarily hard. I have a traditional final question. Yeah. Go on. What's the most positive thing that's come out from your, from having ADHD, and what's the most negative thing? And if you could do negative first then positive Yeah. So we end on a high note.

The most negative thing I've had from ADHD, I would say, is was my viewpoint of myself and who I was as a human being before I found out about it. And it was my feeling of of of not being normal, and and not understanding as to why, and that really affected my mental health. And not knowing myself was was just was just really, really tough, throughout the years. My positive would be by by a mile the people I've met, the the the the community of people that I found and who are such big a big impact of my life. You know, people that I've met on the street, people that I've met online, people that I've met at the o two.

You know, any of the shows I've done, the community that is that is around ADHD and that you've managed to cultivate me and that I'm lucky enough to be a part of, I genuinely think that is the the the best thing about having ADHD is is the love that we all have for each other and and the the willingness for us all to be there and have each other's backs. And and I and I I and I I I wouldn't wouldn't trade that for anything. It's it's such a beautiful thing to have, especially in this day and age where where we're all so isolated. And I think that's the most positive thing I've seen from from having ADHD is is being part of a community that we're all there to help each other, we're all there to get through life together. And and.

Mate, you're such a big part of this. And I'm not just saying this because I'm on this chat, but you're such a huge part of it, man. And and and and the charity just it it it's it's helped so many people. So I'm I'm I'm incredibly proud to to be a part of it.

Well, that was very kind of you. And, honestly, we're just a conduit for, like, people coming together and and making it a difference. I can you know, this is the small corner of the world that I'm trying to put my effort into making a difference.

You all know.

It's a well, it's a it's a big deal. Thank you. Thank you for doing this. Thank you for being an ambassador for ADHD UK. Thank you for being just an incredible representative of ADHD or for the positivity you talk about and and and the success you're having is a it's it's such a it's a shining light for everyone and but being candid about the challenges and it's not just there are challenges. It's not all this easy street is important so people can know that. And, you know, talking about the community, I agree, like, our community of ADHD as a neurodivergent people is wonderful. And something I love is when I'm in the bubble with lots of others.

Yeah. The acceptance that you can be you is the nicest thing. Oh, it's the most amazing. It's the most relaxing thing as well. Yeah. That's You can find you're mentally relaxed. It's great.

That's it. Thank you so much. Thank you very much, Thank you so much, mate.

A real, real pleasure. I've got to go. My my videographer's staring me through the window being like, you're late. Mate, what what what an absolute pleasure, mate. And, I really mean this. I think this is just the beginning, Henry. I think we could there's a lot of things that we're we're gonna do and achieve together, mate. And, yeah, this is just the start. I can promise you that, mate. Thank you so much. Thank you, brother. Appreciate you so much, mate. See you later.