Chris Kamara "feels like a fraud" presenting live TV after his apraxia diagnosis.
Chris Kamara on his apraxia diagnosis
The 64-year-old star quit his role on Sky Sports' 'Soccer Saturday' after 24 years in April 2022, and while he has continued his television career by co-hosting 'Ninja Warrior', now feels he is not giving the "best" version of himself since being diagnosed with the neurological condition that has affected his speech.
He said: "I feel a fraud now in terms of broadcasting - I don’t bring to the table what I used to. I feel I’m doing these programmes and they’re not getting the best of me - they’re tolerating me, that’s how it feels. You take your old self for granted ."
The former footballer went on to explain that it is "really strange" to hear his new way of speaking and has found it "really hard" to accept the diagnosis.
Speaking on 'The Diary of a CEO' podcast, he told host Steven Bartlett: "It feels like someone has taken over my voice box. The voice that used to come out would come out at 300 miles an hour on 'Soccer Saturday', motormouth, talking and not even waiting for a breath, just keep going and going. Now when I hear myself or see myself on TV it’s someone else. It’s really strange. Some days the message from the brain to the mouth is really slow and makes it difficult, or some days the words come out different than what you’re trying to say - and that’s even weirder.
"That’s been hard to accept - and is still hard to accept."