Chris Kamara breaks down in tears as he admits he was ‘ashamed’ of struggling with a speech impediment and is comforted by Susanna Reid

Chris Kamara was overcome with emotion and broke down in tears as he spoke about his struggle after being diagnosed with apraxia of speech.

The popular sports broadcaster, 65, was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and resulting apraxia of speech in 2021, which led to him stepping away from most of his broadcasting roles.

Apraxia is a poorly understood neurological disorder that affects the body’s ability to perform natural motor functions, and apraxia of speech is a specific motor speech disorder that makes speaking difficult.

Chris has now released his new memoir, Kammy: My Unbelievable Life, and talks about his apraxia while promoting the book on Good Morning Britain on Thursday.

The former Sky Sports presenter broke down in tears as he was overcome with emotion and admitted he was “ashamed” of his speech difficulties.

Angry: The former Sky Sports presenter broke down in tears on GMB and was comforted by Susanna Reid as he admitted he was “ashamed” of his speech problem.

“I thought it defined me. I get angry when I talk about it because I’m in denial. I was embarrassed because I couldn’t speak,” he admitted as host Susanna comforted him.

“I didn’t want to be a burden, I’ve looked after my family all my life and I don’t want to be in a position where they have to look after me, but they’ll be happy. “I realized how wrong I was.”

Susanne comforted him and said gently: “Honestly, you have nothing to be ashamed of.” Let me take your hand. They did so much to inspire other people.”

He spoke to presenters Susanna and Ben Shephard and also told how fellow guest Kate Garraway in Mexico recommended an experimental treatment which he said was helpful.

Kate explained that her husband Derek Draper, who has Covid, was also undergoing treatment for apraxia of speech while discussing Chris’ treatment.

She said: “I was nervous to talk to you about it. It’s something Derek underwent treatment for. I couldn’t guarantee anything because they couldn’t. It’s very new, but it helped you, didn’t it?’

Chris also thanked host Ben for his help after he shared how the presenter persuaded him to speak publicly about his speech impediment when viewers thought he was slurring his speech.

“Can I say a big thank you to Ben, because without your help none of this would have happened,” Chris said through tears.

Tears: “I thought it defined me. I get angry when I talk about it because I was in denial, I was ashamed that I couldn’t talk,” he said

Friendly: Susanne comforted him and gently said: “Honestly, you have nothing to be ashamed of.” Let me take your hand. They did so much to inspire other people.”

Support: Chris also thanked presenter Ben for his help after he told how the presenter persuaded him to speak publicly about his speech impediment when viewers thought he was slurring his speech

Ben then went over to Chris and hugged him as he was overcome with emotion in a sweet moment.

As they hugged, Ben joked: “Laura, can we please get the weather now? This is really embarrassing.”

Chris, affectionately known as Kammy, previously told how his good friend Ben convinced him to reveal his diagnosis on GMB in March 2022.

He said: “I’m so glad Ben spoke to me about doing GMB because in many ways I’d say I’m 70% better since that day.” Acceptance was the hardest part, but now I have a clear decision to help other people with language problems.”

Chris established himself as one of the most popular and celebrated football sports broadcasters during his career at Sky Sports, but left the channel last year after 24 years due to his language difficulties.

He revealed this recently that he once considered taking his own life while struggling with a diagnosis of apraxia.

In an extract from his new book, published by the Daily Mirror, he admitted that in his darkest moments he considered suicide because he did not want to burden his wife Anne.

“I’m going to confess something now, something I’ve never mentioned before,” Kamara wrote. “It’s hard for me to talk about this, so please be patient.

“I was afraid of where I would end up. Would my physical and neurological decline continue? And I was more worried about the impact it would have on the people around me.

“I am a man who has always wanted to help, care for, love and appreciate the people around me.” And now I could only see myself as a burden. A shell of the man I was that they had to take care of.’

“Seeing myself like that was like staring into an abyss. I could never reconcile that image in my head. It was unthinkable.’

“And at that moment I thought, ‘They’ll be better off without me.’

Chris wrote that sharing his struggle made him realize that his future might not be “dark”, even though he still suffered from the disease.

The star struggled with speech problems and recently returned to the screen as co-presenter of The Games and Ninja Warrior UK.

The former midfielder, who played for nine English professional clubs over a 20-year career, was forced to walk away from several presenting roles due to his apraxia.

Heartbreaking: Chris recently revealed he once considered taking his own life as he struggled to cope with his apraxia diagnosis

Health: The 65-year-old broadcaster was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and resulting apraxia of speech in 2021, which led to him giving up the majority of his broadcasting duties

In December, a documentary called “Lost For Words” aired about how Kamara copes with the disease.

Kamara was awarded an MBE earlier this year in recognition of his services to football, charity and anti-racism.

During his 24 years on Football Saturdays, Kamara became famous for his catchphrase “Unbelievable Jeff” when describing a big moment in a game hosted by Jeff Stelling.

He also missed a red card when Portsmouth’s Anthony Vanden Borre was sent off against Blackburn in April 2010.

For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritan group. See www.samaritans.org for details.