The Traitors’ star Jake Brown bravely opened up about his life-long battle with a hidden disability on the latest episode of the BBC show.
The 28-year-old project manager from Cumbria is one of the remaining Faithfuls in the intense murder mystery game show hosted by Claudia Winkleman.
Jake has been playing a strong game at the Round Table and has proven himself to be a Faithful to his co-stars after his day one suspicions on Linda Rands turned out to be true after the 70-year-old was recently banished from the castle and revealed her Traitor status.
However, during a particularly strenuous challenge on Friday night’s episode, Jake found himself struggling with the task as he revealed to his fellow Faithful Alexander Dragonetti that he has cerebral palsy.
The NHS states: “Cerebral palsy is the name for a group of lifelong conditions that affect movement and co-ordination. It’s caused by a problem with the brain that develops before, during or soon after birth.”
After participating in the challenge, which involved heaving stone statues up and down the castle grounds, the BBC star revealed he had been struggling more to grip the items rather than with the weight of them.
He explained: “I’ve got cerebral palsy, so it wasn’t the weight, it was the grip. I basically just carried it with one hand. So I was born with cerebral palsy, which affects my right arm and right leg.
“It’s been a struggle growing up, knowing that I’m not the same as everybody else. I would always be constantly looking in the mirror trying to see what my arm looked like or what my leg looked like.
“But it’s something I was born with and it’s never going to go away.”
He continued: “Sometimes because people don’t realise, they assume that there’s no issues or struggles but there obviously is, like my grip’s not good.
“In the past, I probably wouldn’t have mentioned it, I would have struggled in silence but now I feel comfortable just being like, “This is an issue I’ve got, I need some help.””
Jake previously played for England’s cerebral palsy football team which filled him with confidence after meeting other people with the same disability.
He said: “Even though my body is weaker than the average person, I’ve always been very vocal and opinionated. Even if I look weaker physically, mentally, I’m so, so strong.”
Jake plans to spend the £120k shared cash pot prize on a holiday for his parents to thank them for their support growing up if he wins the BBC show.
Later in the episode, he told the other seven remaining players: “Obviously, I had some challenges growing up with my disability, so I’d want to give back to Mum and Dad. I always say they’re Superman and Superwoman.”
The 28-year-old has now reposted the clip of him speaking about his cerebral palsy on the show on his TikTok account.
He wrote: “My cerebral palsy story. Felt good to be able to raise awareness last night of the day to day struggles of living with cerebral palsy. I’m touched by all the lovely messages and comments I have received, it really means a lot!
“I want to inspire people with disabilities that you can go and achieve your dreams and goals if you put your mind to it, where one door may close another will open.”
Jake has made it to the final week of the third season of the Traitors with the last episode set to air on January 24. However, he is at risk of being murdered next.
Traitors Minah and Charlotte left viewers on a cliff-hanger last week when they revealed it would either be Jake, Joe or Leanne to be murdered next.
Viewers will need to tune in on Wednesday night to find out who will leave the castle next.
The Traitors continues on Wednesday night at 9pm on BBC and iPlayer.
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