I See What You’re Saying

Celebrity host Jeff Brazier speaks to guide dog owners Alex Pepper and Nathan Edge, who both lost their sight completely as teenagers. They are joined by Nathan’s friend Pete Jones-Hall who he met through Guide Dogs’ My Guide service. Topics of discussion include football; coming to terms with sight loss; how it can make or break friendships; what similarities, differences and challenges there are in making friends when you are blind. Alex shares hilarious friendship fails – including childhood mates being so used to his sight loss that they frequently forget he has it and leave him in pubs, clubs and even on stag dos by accident. Pete and Nathan share how My Guide matched Pete to support Nathan train for the London marathon and how with “only one good eye” between them, they bonded straight away.

Celebrity host Sophie Thompson is joined by the Suttons: Rachel, Paul and 3-year-old Nell. Nell has vision impairment because of glaucoma which she inherited from father Paul, who is registered blind. Glaucoma also runs in Sophie’s family; her mother has a less severe form which she inherited from her mother and means both Sophie and sister Emma must have regular check-ups. Sophie and the Suttons are also joined by Roger Whalley, whose 5-year-old daughter Josie suffered a stroke at birth causing vision impairment. Both families have children with and without sight loss and discuss how it impacts dynamics; bonding; learning and development. Josie loves to bake and Nell loves art; both girls are inspirational characters who do not let their sight loss hold them back in life and neither do their families.

Celebrity host Adrian Chiles is joined by blind guide dog owners Dave Kent - an old friend and self-confessed rascal, and Ryan Kelly from BBC Radio 4’s, The Archers - who married his childhood sweetheart. They each share dating successes, hilarious mishaps and discuss the differences and similarities of looking for love with and without sight loss. Adrian asks whether guide dogs help or hinder dating and finds out what attributes are most important in finding a prospective partner when you may not be able to see them. 

"I See What You're Saying" is Guide Dogs' new humorous and insightful new 4-part series which delves deeper into what life is really like for people with sight loss. Celebrity hosts Alex Jones, Adrian Chiles, Sophie Thompson and Jeff Brazier each discuss one of life’s everyday moments: love, family, friendship and parenting. They are joined by inspirational guests with varying degrees of vision impairment who talk honestly about the ups, the downs and everything in between.  Listen to Guide Dogs’ new series “I See What You’re Saying” now on your favourite podcast app.