大象传媒

Former star of 'The Only Way is Essex' turned entrepreneur Tommy Mallet has spoken to 大象传媒 Radio 5 Live about how dyslexia has impacted his life.

As part of our 'Word Matters' adult literacy project, which focuses on the estimated nine million adults in the UK who struggle to read and write, Tommy opened up about his own struggles.

Speaking to 5 Live Breakfast鈥檚 Nicky Campbell Tommy said his dyslexia affected him 鈥渨hen he started going into business鈥� and when he needed to read documents, such as when he was buying cars and sorting out insurance paperwork.

The actor admitted that he 鈥渃an read whatever is in front of him鈥� like a text message, but said he has difficulty 鈥渞eading anything in-depth鈥�.

The 28-year-old millionaire said an older colleague once mocked him for his low literacy levels.

鈥淚 was reading a newspaper, trying to fit in, and this guy took it off me and threw it over the other side of the room and said: 鈥楪o and pick that up, you can鈥檛 even read it,鈥欌�� he said.

Instead of feeling humiliated, Tommy said the moment spurred him on 鈥渂ecause I knew that I was worth more鈥�.

The actor said he hopes his success will "give people hope".

"I'm proud of what I have achieved to show people that it ain't all down to what you get told in school... it comes down to how bad you want things."

For more information, visit www.bbc.co.uk/wordmatters

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