Lost Voice Guy, the winner of Britain’s Got Talent 2018 is to host BBC Ouch’s disability and mental health storytelling event at the Edinburgh Festival this summer.

Lee Ridley, known as Lost Voice Guy, will introduce disabled storytellers, at BBC Ouch: Storytelling Live 2018 on August 9th at the BBC’s Big Blue Tent.

The BBC is giving disabled people and people with mental health problems the chance to submit a true story about an unusual, complicated or funny encounter based on this year’s theme, “going out”. Those chosen will get to work with a top comedy script producer and perform on the main stage in front of an audience at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Lee Ridley said: “There’s something really powerful about a lone performer on a stage speaking directly to the audience and building a relationship with them. I always enjoy hearing stories from disabled people and think it’s great that BBC Ouch are championing disabled talent in this unique way.”

Damon Rose, Editor of BBC Ouch, said: “Last year’s storytelling event at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe had a sold-out audience and the performances left people buzzing about what they’d just seen.

“Disabled people and those with mental health difficulties have complex and rich lives, with fascinating and often humorous stories which don’t often get a decent airing. We’re here to bring some of those stories out into the open so everyone can share them." 

“It also shines a light on new talent out there waiting to be heard. After the event, it will appear on BBC TV, iPlayer and the BBC News website.”

Submissions for stories close at 9am on Monday 18th June 2018. Details of the event can be found here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunities/BBC-Ouch

Tickets for BBC Storytelling Live 2018 are available here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/e2n3v2