Morning Live presenter Gordon Smart has opened up about losing his voice, his work and his identity during the Covid lockdowns, and how he worked to recover. Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, he said he lost almost all of his work within a month and could not speak for a while.
Losing Work and Identity
Smart described the period as one where he lost his sense of self. "I lost my voice. I pretty much lost all of my work in the space of a month and couldn't really speak for a while. And I lost my identity. I didn't realise how much of my career was my identity."
He said there was no quick fix to his situation. "To dig myself out of that hole, you know, there was no magic wand, there was no rich relative, there was no quick fix."
Recovery Through Routine
The presenter credited activity and structure with helping him recover. "The only thing that got me out of it was activity and being proactive and trying to get moving, keeping fit, keeping a routine, keeping structure, because the temptation is just to give up."
He also shared advice from a friend, former Royal Marine sniper Aldo Kane, who told him to "Mine for diamonds in your own backyard." Smart said: "You don't realise you're sitting on all of the answers. You just have to find them."
Mental Health Advocacy
Smart, a long-time ambassador for male mental health causes, said he has never questioned showing vulnerability publicly. "It's not really a difficult choice because I think it's a necessary and important thing to do."
He said protecting his children is a priority, and he regularly checks in with his 16-year-old son. "I want to show my son, in particular, that there's nothing wrong with talking about vulnerability." He also mentioned conversations about the TV show Adolescence and a Louis Theroux documentary as helpful.
Movember and The New Bromantics
Smart is an ambassador for Movember, including the project The New Bromantics, a short documentary-style film executive-produced by Rizzle Kicks star Jordan Stephens. The film explores why men struggle to open up and seek support, and asks groups of male friends to recreate vintage photographs of men posing close together.
Smart reflected on Movember's origins, noting it started as a prostate cancer awareness initiative and grew into a mental health charity. He said mental health discussions should happen all year round, not just in November.
He also spoke about finding his 40s harder than any other stage of his life and relying on friends more than ever. "I'm very lucky that I don't suffer from a lack of people to speak to, which makes me very cognizant of the fact that anybody who doesn't have a social circle that can support them really needs help."
The New Bromantics can be watched on the Movember website.
