Bonkers celebrity GCSE results day stories: From Ant and Dec’s spooky similarity to Holly Willoughby’s dire discovery and an Olympians fairytale ending
As I read through these inspiring stories of individuals who have reached great heights despite their educational setbacks, I find myself deeply moved and encouraged. Richard Branson, Simon Cowell, Cheryl, and Robbie Williams are all testament to the fact that success is not determined by academic qualifications, but rather by one’s unique abilities, resilience, and determination.
On Thursday, numerous high school students across the United Kingdom uncovered their GCSE results to learn whether they were accepted into their preferred sixth form institutions or colleges.
While for many it may determine what careers they go on to secure, every year a whole host of celebrities prove that grades don’t dictate everything.
In a conversation about their previous academic records, Ant and Dec found an eerie resemblance in their report card marks.
While taking their exams, both Holly Willoughby and Richard Branson experienced a similar inconvenience.
Other’s proved to have a much smoother journey with one Olympian making his dreams come true.
As young adults across the nation collect their exam results, let’s delve into some extraordinary celebrity tales from their GCSE days.
Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly
Ant and Dec initially crossed paths at the age of 14, when they were both chosen for the roles of PJ and Duncan on Byker Grove. Subsequently, they rose to fame as popular television hosts.
The duo not only share their careers but also received the same amount of GSCE’s and identical grades, three Bs and two Cs each.
Dec shared with Radio Times that our academic skills appear to differ. It seems that I excel in areas involving numbers and logical reasoning, whereas he finds tasks such as Sudoku unappealing, yet they are enjoyable for me when traveling.
Reflecting on his days in school, prior to landing the TV role, Ant reminisced to Chronicle Live: My drama teacher, Lyn Spencer, noticed my passion for acting and recommended me. Without her encouragement and backing, I might not have made it this far. Thus, I owe a great deal of gratitude to Lyn.
While I thoroughly appreciated “Why Don’t You,” I must admit that the consequences following it were less enjoyable for me. Being recognized at school led to a considerable amount of teasing and ridicule, which I found quite challenging to handle.
When they requested an audition for Byker Grove, I wasn’t interested. I concealed the invitation letter from my mom, but a friend of mine betrayed me by informing my mom about it instead.
Holly Willoughby
Holly attended Burgess Hill Girls School, but she faced challenges during her GCSE years, which eventually led to a diagnosis of dyslexia.
The presenter said admitted she dreaded having to read out passages in class and ‘couldn’t spell.’
She said: ‘I didn’t get my dyslexia diagnosis until my GCSEs which is relatively quite late.
I disliked having to read aloud since my reading skills weren’t strong, which often led me to confuse words and left me feeling awkward and embarrassed.
On “This Morning,” Holly shared: “I needed to discover my own set of tools, and for me, it meant locating someone who could guide me in using them effectively. Back then, these skills weren’t widely taught in schools.”
As an ardent enthusiast, I used to conceal my thoughts from others by refraining from writing in their presence due to my spelling challenges. Yet, today, those concerns no longer weigh heavily on me.
In my teenage years, I was fortunate enough to receive guidance that helped me manage a challenging condition effectively.
Holly mentioned: “However, during my time at college, I encountered a specific woman who provided me with valuable guidance. This encounter served as a significant turning point for me.”
Tom Daley
At only 15 years old, Tom achieved the title of Britain’s youngest world champion ever, yet like everyone else, he still needed to take his General Certificate of Secondary Education exams.
Yet, his swift ascent to fame enabled him to enlist the assistance of a globally renowned supermodel for his photography assignment, posing alongside her.
In London, Tom got an opportunity to meet Kate Moss during an Italian Vogue photoshoot invitation. Their interaction was captured in the photos, and they found common ground discussing Tom’s passion for photography.
After finding the necessary bravery, he inquired whether she’d be willing to pose for a class assignment where he planned to recreate renowned art pieces using photography.
In 2009, he shared with The Daily Mail that he requested Kate to serve as the model for a specific photo I had in mind, which was influenced by a classic portrait painted by David Hockney.
‘I told her it was for part of my course and she agreed.’
Gemma Collins
Reality TV star Gemma Collins, left school at 16 after not enjoying studying and taking exams.
As a student who walked away from school with a ‘U’ in mathematics, I, Gemma, didn’t let it phase me. In an interview with YOU magazine, I shared, “Sitting in the maths GCSE exam room, I found myself thinking, ‘I’m destined for fame, and I don’t need maths.’ Instead, what captivated my attention was a stroll down Romford High Street to treat myself to some brand new shoes.”
Looking back now, my long-held aspirations for stardom finally materialized when I found myself joining the esteemed cast of the popular ITV reality show, TOWIE (The Only Way is Essex). It was a surreal moment that validated all those years spent pursuing my passion.
Richard Branson
Similar to Gemma, Richard Branson departed from school at the age of 16, with his headmaster predicting that his future would lead him to either incarceration or amassing millions.
In my twenties, I finally received a diagnosis for dyslexia – a challenge that had long hindered my academic progress during my school days.
After a couple of years, he started his initial venture – a magazine titled ‘Student’. Today, he is the proprietor of Virgin Atlantic, one of the world’s biggest airlines, with a business network valued at approximately $2.5 billion.
In 2022, Richard shared with The Times his past educational struggles, specifically his difficulties with reading and writing.
He shared that his initial recollections of education involved staring at a blackboard filled with nonsensical words, feeling lost, and moving to the back of the classroom so he could peek over someone else’s shoulder in hopes of understanding the material better. Despite this confusion, he eagerly awaited break times when he could leave the classroom and play.
During his education years in the 1950s and 1960s, dyslexia wasn’t commonly understood. Richard stated, “I often mixed things up. They thought that those of us with dyslexia were simply unintelligent. I was certainly at the bottom of my class.”
He advised students: ‘You won’t necessarily reach success because you failed exams but you can reach success in spite of failed exams.’
As a devoted admirer, I can attest that I’ve found my unique affliction to be a significant catalyst for my extraordinary achievements, much like Sir Richard Branson, the founder of Virgin, asserts.
On his blog, Richard shared that he’s come to understand and appreciate the unique methods his dyslexic thought process employs over time.
He often chose individuals with distinct personalities and thought processes when hiring, explaining that he paid less attention to academic achievements or professional titles. Instead, he prioritized the right mindset, emphasizing ‘We valued the abilities we required, and placed more importance on attitude rather than accomplishments.’
The entrepreneur strongly argued that the existing educational system is not fair because it grades everyone identically, without considering their unique abilities and areas for improvement.
Simon Cowell
He may be at the pinnacle of the music industry now, but Simon Cowell wasn’t always top dog.
Having grown up in a humble background and faced with financial constraints, I was forced to leave school early at the tender age of 16. All I had to show for my educational journey were just two O-level certificates, which are comparable to today’s GCSE qualifications. Despite these challenging circumstances, I never let my dreams be overshadowed by my limited formal education. Instead, I channeled my energy and resilience into chasing my aspirations and eventually became a renowned judge on The X Factor. My life story serves as a testament that one’s educational background does not necessarily dictate their success or limitations in life.
He began his career working in the mailroom at his father’s company, EMI Music Publishing.
Currently, Simon’s reputation extends globally due to his successful creation of TV shows like X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent, both of which have been adapted in various countries.
Cheryl
From a young age, Cheryl had a dream of becoming an entertainer, and she chose to forgo her high school education, not earning any GCSEs in the process.
At the age of 19, she joined Girls Aloud following her participation in the reality television show, Popstars: The Rivals contest.
In a blog for The Huffington Post, Cheryl wrote in 2012, ‘For those who did well with their GCSEs or even managed to scrape by, their world is about to change.
Perhaps they are preparing to enroll in college to pursue their preferred fields of study, or perhaps they’ve already secured their dream job. Regardless, it’s an occasion worth rejoicing!
Robbie Williams
Robbie Williams didn’t entertain anyone with his academic achievements.
Contrary to expectations that he would excel in English, History, and Geography at secondary school level, he struggled instead, ending up with failures in all subjects for his GCSE exams.
Looking back, it feels like destiny steered me towards Take That. If given a chance, I’d rewind time and work harder for my GCSEs – something I regrettably didn’t manage to pass at all.
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2024-08-22 19:20