Gogglebox star 'ready to be open' as he shares condition he 'hid for years'
A reality TV star has revealed a health condition he has been keeping a secret for years. Daniel Lustig-Webb rose to fame on hit Channel 4 series Gogglebox. And as he marks his 50th birthday, the star has opened up on a condition he has kept hidden for decades.
Daniel starred on the show for five years alongside his now ex-husband Stephen Lustig-Webb. The pair were huge fan-favourites, leaving many viewers saddened when they left the show in 2023.
Now, as he turns 50, he has revealed he is completely deaf in one ear. He admitted the condition has shaped his life for decades and he is now ready to openly share his condition with his followers.
He explained he has started a fitness and wellbeing journey focussed on self-acceptance and health. He revealed he has been partially deaf since childhood and admitted it is something that made him insecure and reluctant to talk about in the past.
He said: "I've been half deaf since I was a child. I got mumps when I was younger, which caused an infection in my ear, and that left me with complete and permanent hearing loss in one ear. For years, I hid it. I didn't want people to see me as 'different' or less capable.
"At school, it was tough, I was often picked on and teachers told me I was 'thick' because I struggled to concentrate, not realising it was because I couldn't hear properly. It made me really insecure. I thought I was just failing."
He also opened up about his condition affecting his social life and confidence, explaining how it was worse in noisy environments. He added: "Going out with friends, trying to join in conversations at parties, it's exhausting.
"You end up guessing what people say or pretending you hear it all. I'd mimic the conversation, hoping no one noticed. But it takes a toll. I've had to learn to listen differently, and sometimes I just switch off."
But he has admitted now is time for him to speak out about his condition. "At 50, I feel like it's finally time to stop hiding and to be proud of who I am," he went on. "I'm planning to begin learning sign language because I want to connect with the deaf community and support others who might be struggling like I did. Deafness isn't a weakness, it's part of me.'
Daniel's decision to share his story comes at a time when nearly 11 million people in the UK havesome form of hearing loss, with about one in six adults being affected. He admitted he is hoping that speaking out can help break down the myths and stigma around dearness.
He went on to say the "invisible" condition often makes people feel isolated. Daniel revealed his priorities are now changing as he's getting older, explaining he focussing on his health.
He admitted he is "learning to love and accept" his condition and insisted it's important he can show others that it's not something to be ashamed or afraid of.
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