TV representation

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Jessie on the Traitors (Courtesy of BBC/Studio Lambert/Euan Cherry)

On International Stammering Awareness Day in 2021, we launched our major campaign pushing for greater representation of people who stammer on TV and radio.

'No Diversity Without Disfluency' was all about highlighting that drives to improve inclusivity in the media are all well and good, but what about including people who stammer? Without it, negative portrayals showing people who stammer as there to be laughed at, feel sorry for, or to imply a moral failing, will carry on the cycle of stigma and shame.

What we did

We created a petition to push for greater representation in the media and made the quirky video 'Not just one day' to promote it. The video was seen in select cinemas across the UK thanks to Pearl & Dean, who generously gave us pro bono support.

On International Stammering Awareness Day itself, 22^nd October 2021, we marched on the BBC to hand in our petition, joined by our supporters and patrons (see pic below).

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Handing in our No Diversity Without Disfluency petition to the BBC, 2022

Outcome so far: greater visibility

In 2025/6 alone, we've seen more people who stammer on our screens, including:

Jessie on The Traitors

Jessie was open about her stammer from the very start of her appearance on just about the biggest TV show on the BBC right now, smashing stereotypes, stealing viewers' hearts while proving herself an excellent Traitor-hunter in the process.

Read our blog about it, and read the effects Jessie's appearance had on our supporters Hayley and Leys.

Nataliia on The Great British Bake Off 

Nataliia was a stand-out contestant on the popular Channel 4 show in 2025, wowing judges with her culinary creations, including one honouring her homeland of Ukraine, while openly stammering.

Lewis on Call the Bailiffs

Lewis showed viewers that you can work and succeed in a public-facing job, have confidence and stammer, in this Channel 5 documentary series. Read all about it Lewis's article for Your Voice.

Scroobius Pip in Young Sherlock

The STAMMA patron and actor landed a part in this hit Amazon series, having been cast in the Star Wars series The Acolyte in 2024.

Ed Balls on Good Morning Britain 

Ed, another of our patrons, continues to speak out about stammering as co-host of the ITV1 morning show.

Inclusive casting processes

We're starting to see the effects of the campaign, with production companies including Lambert Studios and Five Mile Films, consulting us about making their casting processes inclusive for people with speech difficulties. 

They now regularly ask us to put casting calls out to our members, inviting them to apply for huge shows including Race Across the World, The Apprentice and The Dog House.