Episode Description: 

On this episode of The Invisible Gift, Andrew meets actress and winner of Strictly Come Dancing - Kara Tointon. In the show, Kara and Andrew discuss Kara's groundbreaking BBC dyslexia documentary; 'Don't Call Me Stupid', Andrew and Kara get emotional when talking about the support they received from their family, and they discuss whether medicating children for neuro-diversity is the right approach. 

Top Quotes:

"You take these amazing, creative kids and when parents medicate, they get put into a box. They withdraw inside themselves." - Andrew

"Dyslexia is not a hindrance. It's a good thing. It's a gift." - Kara Tointon

About the Host:

The Invisible Gift is hosted by entrepreneur and dyslexic, Andrew Kitley. With twenty years experience, Andrew Kitley has worked his way up the metaphorical and literal ladder to become Managing Director of Kitall: an engineering firm. Under Andrew's guidance, Kitall is now one of the most sought after names to complete complex engineering projects in the UK. In each episode of The Invisible Gift, Andrew seeks the advice and inspiration of a fellow trailblazer who has defied the odds to achieve the extraordinary - turning the challenge of dyslexia into a gift.

About the Guest:

Kara Tointon is an English actress, known for a variety of television and stage roles. In 2005, Tointon joined the cast of BBC soap EastEnders as a new character, Dawn Swann. This would become Kara’s best known role which was fitting  given her first ever television appearance was on EastEnders as an extra in 1994. In 2010, Kara won Strictly Come Dancing series 8 with her partner Artem Chigvinstev. Tointon has been acclaimed for her theatre work as well - Her 2011 role as Eliza Doolittle in West End’s production of Pygmalion was met with acclaim. In 2015, she was cast as Maria in The Sound of Music Live.

Resources:

https://www.instagram.com/kara_tointon/?hl=en

https://www.kitall.co.uk/

https://www.onefineplay.com/