Tuning in…
Tuning in…
Castaway
2 appearances
Paralympian and TV presenter who played wheelchair basketball and anchored Channel 4's coverage of the London 2012 Paralympics.
On the island
Eight records
it was the the theme for the trail that Channel Four used
it was a protest song … something that my dad used to play all the time
my dad always used to tell me, You have to be a serious boy … so I just hit remember the lyrics
reminds me of it's quite sad of the day my father passed away
The keepsakes
In conversation
Presenter asks
1:04Do you think after London 2012 Paralympics there's no going back for Paralympic sport?
Yeah, I think this was a landmark Paralympics. You know, even now, I still can't believe it's happened. You know, the figures speak for themselves. You look at the Olympic Park every day, it was jam-packed. And working on Channel 4, we were getting 6.5 million people watching on Thriller Thursday when Johnny Peacock won 100 meters. Everyone was just so up for it.
Presenter asks
2:37Has there ever been a situation where you've thought, 'Hold on, even for me, I'm pushing it a bit too far'?
I suppose the most physical moment was when I was halfway up a volcano in Nicaragua. … I got out of my wheelchair and crawled up the volcano on my hands and knees and on my backside. … it was the most empowering thing I'd ever done.
Presenter asks
5:35How much of a difference do you think the Paralympics is going to make among the younger generation to their attitudes towards people with disabilities?
Huge difference. Huge difference because when I was growing up watching TV, I didn't see any black people on TV. I didn't see any disabled people on TV. … But now, for them to see people like Ellie Simmons and Johnny Peacock and Oscar Pistorius, they've got a blueprint of where they can go. They have their heroes, and it's not just for disabled kids. Able-bodied kids are now looking at kids with disabilities and looking at them as heroes. I think that's beautiful.
The luxury
Presenter asks
8:20Why did your parents decide to leave for the UK?
Well, at the age of six months, I contracted polio, which affected mainly the left side of my body. It meant I was unable to walk. And my parents kind of realized, you know, Nigeria just wasn't equipped for people with physical disabilities. … they made the tough, tough decision of taking me first and trying to save money to bring my sister over later. … it was a moment that absolutely changed my life.
Presenter asks
10:07Was there a sense of palpable shock between your parents at the fact that this was not a country that greeted them with open arms?
Yeah, there definitely was. They had a huge amount of respect for the UK. … they were expecting to be received with open arms and treated really well, but it wasn't the case. I think there were certain moments when they thought, hold on, you know, this isn't worth it. … it had such an impact on my mum that she had a nervous breakdown.
Presenter asks
21:28What was the catalyst for the reconciliation with your father?
Well, me and my parents, after about five or six years, we'd started talking a little bit. … And when I came back from Spain, they were kind of starting to feel a little bit proud of me … And I just got selected for the national team to go to the Sydney Paralympics. … And he came out of the house and he was in tears. And he'd watch me on the TV for the first time playing basketball. And I think he kind of realised that this is what I wanted to do. And he accepted it. It was a nice moment.
“My first encounter with the Olympics was 1984. I was 11. … I wanted to be like Sebco and Daly Thompson … East London from LA to Stratford. That's crazy.”
“Huge difference. Huge difference because when I was growing up watching TV, I didn't see any black people on TV. … They have their heroes, and it's not just for disabled kids. Able-bodied kids are now looking at kids with disabilities and looking at them as heroes. I think that's beautiful.”
“Well, at the age of six months, I contracted polio … I've got so much to thank them for because it was a moment that absolutely changed my life.”
“Yeah, there definitely was. … it had such an impact on my mum that she had a nervous breakdown”
“they were disgusted actually and it was it was a really difficult time and I remember I got my first wheelchair … he threw it out the house”