Andi Peters became emotional as he reflected on how his race has impacted his 30-year career in television in a moving short film exploring diversity.
The presenter, 52, teared up as he advised people to never let “the colour of your skin hold you back” but admitted some may have to “work harder” for success than others.
The heart-rendering scenes feature on a new ITV short film called Becoming The Person I Wanted To See.
The film shows some of the channel’s presenters getting candid about the positive and negative impact of on-screen representation.
Andi showed a more serious side to his usually gleeful on-screen personality as he discussed his experience of being a black man in the TV industry.
In the film, he says: “I get upset when people don't believe in themselves, don't let the colour of your skin ever hold you back. Don't let who you are ever hold you back.
“Everyone can achieve, it might be harder for you and you might have to battle, but believe in yourself and eventually somebody else will believe in you.
“We mustn't fear the hard work… just get it done!”
Andi was joined by news anchor and Loose Women presenter Charlene White for the film.
The I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! star spoke on her feelings of personal responsibility when it comes to representing the next generation of black female broadcasters.
She said: “I’d love to see more action… and being more forward-thinking and taking chances.
“I understand the impact of me rocking up on TV news with my hair like this. I understand the impact that can have on black girls up and down the country and I know how empowered they will feel seeing me.
“It’s never a responsibility that I’ve taken lightly and I’ll continue rustling feathers as a result!”
Andi and Charlene were joined by their colleagues Katie Piper, Lorraine Kelly and Good Morning Britain's Ranvir Singh who all discussed the importance of representation in television and encouraging on-screen diversity.
Katie told how she never thought she’d make it on TV after being burned with acid.
Commenting on the title of the film Becoming The Person I Wanted To See, Katie Piper said: “When I hear the phrase ‘becoming the person I wanted to see’, a wave of emotions rush over me.
“Some good, some bad… I also feel some sadness that I didn't see representation when I most needed it in my life.”
Sharing her experience of breaking into television, Katie explained: “I thought I would never make it on TV because of my accident.
“It was 15 years ago I was burnt and TV was a place for beautiful people, not burnt people.”
“Working on Loose Women is a place [where] I forget that I’m burnt and that’s when I know I’m at my most happy - that’s how I can really judge it.
“I think what needs to be done, is that I’m not the only one. I don’t have any colleagues with a facial disfigurement.”
Meanwhile Good Morning Britain’s Ranvir Singh shared an experience early on in her broadcasting career that motivated her to become who she is today.
She told: “What was really upsetting but also at the same time weirdly reassuring, was that all the other decent white people in the office knew I wasn't being spoken to in the same way that other women with my same inexperience were being treated, and none of them stepped in.
“And do you know what… everything I’ve done since then is a f*ck you to that. Everything I’ve done since then has been - you ignored me, I’ll make sure you can never ignore me [again]”.
Lorraine Kelly discussed an early experience in her career that stayed with her.
She said: “Nobody sounded like me at all on the telly, even when you watch the news in Scotland… so I didn’t really have anybody in a sense to identify with.
“I remember vividly when I worked for BBC Scotland being told that I would never make it on air by the big boss, because of my accent.”
Watch Becoming The Person I Wanted To See on Friday 30th December at 1:45pm on ITV1 & ITVX
