LadBaby opens up about dyslexia as they return to Nottingham school after writing book

The couple behind the hugely popular LadBaby account have opened up about their experiences of dyslexia.

Mark Hoyle, 33, spoke to pupils at his old school, Greythorn Primary, in Nottingham on Wednesday morning, while celebrating the launch of his new children’s book. 

His wife, Roxanne, 37, also has dyslexia - and was also diagnosed while at school.

The couple, who co-wrote Greg the Sausage Roll, Santa's Little Helper, said it “is something they could have only once dreamt of.”

Mark and Roxanne's story:

Mark’s mum paid for him to be diagnosed privately as a schoolkid, because in those days, he said, it was "still a bit off the radar.”

His school offered him help and extra classes - as well as support with exams - but he said he always turned down the additional support because he thought he might be bullied for it.

He said “he wanted to ignore it and not be different.”

Roxanne said her school didn’t know she had it, but her mum knew something was up and she was diagnosed privately when she was 7 or 8.

Once diagnosed, she took her school up on their offer of extra lessons and special classes. 

She said she did get bullied for it at school.

Both remember their mums sitting with them hour after hour when they were little, trying to help them.

The pair think they were both "really lucky" that they had mums that were able and willing to support then.

Both said that dyslexia is a “terrible thing” until you work out how to “unlock the part of your brain that does the translating from words to pictures.”

Now, on the launch of their new book, the couple said: "It has been our lifelong ambition to publish a children's book and finally our dreams are becoming a reality!"

They continued: "We've both got dyslexia and are so well aware that engaging kids in fun and comical storytelling is critical to get them into reading.

As parents we know  that sharing a book at bedtime with our boys is magical.

It's important that all children can access books, so we are thrilled to be partnering with Puffin, the National Literacy Trust and WHSmith to donate books to children in need."