Rochelle Humes says she is ‘very lucky’ to work with Chris Kamara (pictured with her) and Ben Shephard on the ITV game show Ninja Warrior UK
(Picture: PA)Rochelle Humes has praised her Ninja Warrior co-host Chris Kamara following his apraxia diagnosis — and insisted she’s “got his back no matter what”.
Kamara, 64, revealed in March that he had been diagnosed with apraxia of speech (AOS), a motor speech disorder that makes it hard to speak. The condition can make saying the right sounds and words very difficult.
Months after going public with his diagnosis, the football pundit filmed, Ninja Warrior UK: Race for Glory, alongside Humes, 33, and their fellow co-star Ben Shephard, 47, in Manchester.
He was still undergoing tests and gruelling treatment to help with his condition and thanked his co-hosts for getting him through the shoot in August.
Speaking at ITV Palooza, an annual gala that showcases the broadcaster’s forthcoming shows, Kamara told The Standard: “I got away with presenting when I wasn’t so good.
“But Ben Shephard, Rochelle [Humes], [Ninja Warrior’s executive producers] Michael Kelpie and Martin Scott got me through it so I’m grateful for them”.
Reflecting on his kind words, Humes admitted she just wants “the best” for Kamara amid his health battle. She added that the presenting trio are “lucky” to work together.
Humes told The Standard: “We’re all friends. I just want the best for him always and I’ve got his back no matter what.
“If that meant holding his hand when he wanted to walk down the stairs and he would playfully drag me, I’m here for it.
“We’re a good team, we’re very lucky.”
Ninja Warrior UK is a physical obstacle assault course game show, based upon the format of the Japanese programme Sasuke.
Earlier in the evening, Kamara also told us about his new documentary, Chris Kamara: Lost for Words.
The one-off show will give viewers unprecedented access into life with AOS. It will also highlight people in the UK living with different speech conditions.
The Sky Sports pundit said he “hopes it’s going to raise a lot of awareness for speech conditions” as he thanked his colleagues for supporting him in his health battle.
“There’s been so many people that have come forward to try and help me with my condition that it’s been amazing, it really has,” he said.
“Giving a little bit back through the documentary will be well worth it.”
