Our Patrons

STAMMA is supported by our valued Patrons. 

Our Patrons have each been impacted uniquely by their stammer. They each consider it in a different way and we are keen to share their experiences, views and insights. They are, in alphabetical order:

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Ed Balls

Ed Balls 

Ed is a broadcaster and former MP. And star of Strictly Come Dancing, of course. After discovering he stammered later in life, Ed is now one of the main presenters on Good Morning Britain, where he has talked about his experiences of stammering on numerous occasions.
 

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Kelly Brown

Kelly Brown

Kelly is a former Scotland International Rugby Captain. Watch him talking about his stammer in an interview he did with Rugby Pass: Life in rugby with a stammer. Kelly also features in a BBC Sport article: 'How two elite sportsmen learned to live with a stammer'.

 

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Rodney Earl Clarke

Rodney Earl Clarke

Rodney is a professional opera singer and vocal coach. 

He has performed in many productions including Les Misérables in the West End and he was the first winner of the Richard Lewis/Jean Shanks Award in 2001.
 

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James Davies

James Davies 

James is an osteopath who has treated top celebrities including David Beckham, Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Kylie Minogue, and has written a book called 'Body'. Read all about James and watch his interview with us.

 

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Dame Margaret Drabble

Dame Margaret Drabble DBE

Margaret is a celebrated author of acclaimed novels such as The Millstone.

Watch Margaret talking about stammering and the power of words in this discussion with author David Mitchell.
 

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David Mitchell

David Mitchell

David is an acclaimed author. Watch him talking about stammering and the power of words in this discussion with author Margaret Drabble. His title 'Black Swan Green' is a semi-biographical novel about a boy who stammers. Watch David speak at the 2013 World Congress for People who Stutter. Or read a transcript of his speech, from the Dutch Stuttering Association.
 

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Scroobius Pip

Scroobius Pip

Pip is an actor, podcaster, spoken word artist and musician. 

Listen to a special edition of his podcast 'Distraction Pieces', where he talks with three people who stammer.

 

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Arwel Richards

Arwel Richards

Arwel is a successful businessman and broadcaster from Wales. 

Watch his short video 'Stammering doesn't have to hold you back'.
 

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Owen Sheers

Owen Sheers

Owen is a novelist, poet, playwright and presenter. 

Read more about Owen and watch our interview with him.
 

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Jon Smith

Jon Smith OBE

Jon is an agent with a high profile in the sports and entertainment arenas.

In his biography 'The Deal' he talks about his stammer and how he developed public speaking skills for his continuous media work.

 

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Hannah Tovey speaking at a stammering-related event at the Hay Festival 2023

Hannah Tovey

Hannah is an acclaimed author. 

Her whose debut novel The Education of Ivy Edwards was an Amazon number 1 bestseller. 

Read more about Hannah.
 

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Janet Whitaker

Baroness Janet Whitaker

Baroness Whitaker is a Labour peer who is currently sitting on the Environmental & Climate Change Committee.

Read our interview with Baroness Janet Whitaker, in which she talks about coping with her stammer in Parliament.
 

Former patrons

Our former Patrons include:

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Jonathan Miller

Jonathan Miller CBE (1934-2019)

Jonathan Miller, Writer, presenter, humourist and medical doctor, sadly passed away in November 2019. 

Read our Tribute to Jonathan Miller, which includes a transcription of his Parkinson interview where he talked about his stammer.
 

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Nicholas Parsons

Nicholas Parsons CBE (1923-2020)

One of our longest-standing patrons, legendary entertainer Nicholas Parsons died in January 2020. 

Read what he did for the charity in our Tribute to Nicholas Parsons.

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Tayo & Bhupinder
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A speaker on stage at STAMMAFest 2023

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