“The Next Morning I Was Full Of Anxiety” Calum Scott Reveals What REALLY Happened on Britain’s Got Talent & Battle With Body Dysmorphia “I Told Myself ‘You’re Disgusting’”

We Need To Talk with Paul C. Brunson

FlightStory

Leisure, Relationships, Society & Culture

4.8 • 652 Ratings

🗓️ 22 April 2025

⏱️ 114 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In this episode of We Need To Talk, Calum Scott opens up like never before. A decade on from his iconic Britain’s Got Talent audition, Calum reflects on the moment that changed everything. He reveals what was really going on behind the scenes, the guilt he still carries about his sister, and the truth about that death stare at Simon Cowell. Calum speaks candidly about growing up in Hull, being raised by strong women, and navigating his sexuality - including the impact of being outed by friends at school. He opens up about his struggles with body dysmorphia, identity, and the time he found himself on a bridge, questioning whether he could go on. From Dancing On My Own - now streamed over 1 billion times on Spotify - to No Matter What, Calum reveals how he turned heartbreak into healing, and how therapy has helped him find peace. This is Calum Scott as you’ve never seen him - raw, honest, and deeply human. This episode includes sensitive topics like suicidal thoughts and body dysmorphia. Please watch with care and find support resources below: MIND - https://g2ul0.app.link/w5vNMYwowQb Samaritans - https://g2ul0.app.link/zsXiEH8BORb Follow me here: https://www.instagram.com/needtotalk https://www.tiktok.com/@weneedtotalkpod Support Calum here: Instagram - https://g2ul0.app.link/JAW7hxKlKSb TikTok - https://g2ul0.app.link/xpUnQDNlKSb Pre-order new album Avenoir https://g2ul0.app.link/uG2nTUJOKSb FTD & Me Blog https://www.ftdandme.co.uk/about-me (00:00) Intro (01:38) Yorkshire Tea (02:55) Calum Describes Hull (04:10) What Are Some of the Northern Stereotypes That Are True? (05:37) Calum's Memories of Home When He Was a Child (07:41) Did Calum's Biological Dad Have Any Presence in His Life After He Left? (10:16) Calum's Time in HR (11:38) When Did Calum Discover His Voice? (13:47) Calum's First Time Singing On-Stage (16:49) Calum's Relationship with His Sister (17:43) Calum's Time in 'Maroon 4' (18:51) The Impact of Calum's Grandma on His Life (20:57) Calum's Life and Relationship with His Sister Going Into the Britain's Got Talent Auditions (22:18) Calum's Experience of His Britain's Got Talent Audition (36:51) Calum Reflects on the Impact BGT Had on His Career (38:47) Calum's Experience of the BGT Final (45:18) How Did Calum Get a Record Deal After BGT? (49:35) What Are the Biggest Highs and Lows of Calum's Career? (55:00) Calum's Style of Singing and His Confidence Over Time (58:50) Shopify Ad (1:00:02) Tinder Ad (1:00:57) The Lyrics to 'You're the Reason' (1:03:08) Calum's Journey with His Sexuality and Coming Out (1:21:52) Calum's Experience of Body Dysmorphia and Suicidal Ideation (1:29:57) A Message from Calum's Best Friend Jess (1:31:49) How to Support a Friend Going Through a Tough Time (1:33:51) Calum Explains FTD and the Impact It’s Had on His and Jess' Life (1:37:09) Discussing Mortality and Living Life to the Fullest (1:39:45) The Inspiration Behind Calum's New Album 'Avenoir' (1:41:56) Calum's Pre-Stage Ritual (1:44:26) Where Does Calum's Desire to Be a Father Come From? (1:45:52) Most Memorable Conversation (1:50:20) Paul's Takeaways Sponsored by: Shopify: www.shopify.co.uk/needtotalk Tinder: https://tinder.com/en-GB Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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0:22.0	Shopify is made for entrepreneurs like you.
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0:30.0	I death stir, Simon Cowell, for God's sake.
0:34.7	I asked him, did you see me when I did that?
0:36.5	But then a minute later, he changed your life.
0:41.5	I knew as soon as I started singing that there was something off, I remember finishing
0:48.9	and I looked to Simon and he was the only judge not stood up.
0:52.4	And then Simon was like, wow.
0:54.5	Rumor has it, there was a contract on the table waiting for me that got ripped up.
0:58.1	I was broken.
0:59.0	How do you then go from the lowest point in your career to then a record deal?
1:03.2	And I'd started to get real traction.
1:05.4	I put an ink to paper in Capitol Records in L.A.
1:08.5	The video going online and it'd becoming a viral thing.
1:11.0	I was being flown all over the world.
1:12.6	It was amazing.
1:13.1	But you felt different.
1:14.5	Growing up, sort of was abandoned by my friends
1:16.8	when I came out as being gay.
1:18.6	I would be stood in the mirror going,
1:21.8	you ugly, disgusting, nobody loves you.
	...

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