Celebrities and listeners share the words that matter most to them
BBC Radio 5 Live has been asking people to send in videos of themselves reading out loud some words which really matter to them.
Listeners, celebrities and presenters have been joining in and the words have ranged from a school motto to a message from a neighbour.
Research shows that reading out loud can improve memory, bring communities together and help build confidence.
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Neighbour’s message ‘inspired me’ in lockdown
DJ Spoony reads out a note from a neighbour that inspired him in lockdown.
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‘The world needs more dyslexic thinking’
Sir Richard Branson describes how a quote from Albert Einstein inspired him and the story behind Virgin.
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Message about ADHD made me feel ‘so good’
Reality star Tanya Bardsley wells up as she read out loud a message she received after sharing her ADHD diagnosis.
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‘Refrain from shouting, ducking, petting’
5 Live presenter Rachel Burden joins the Read Out Loud challenge with a poster from a swimming pool she used to visit as a child.
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‘It’s special to me’
Manchester-based author Karen Woods shares a letter she wrote to her late brother.
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‘It’s great to recollect the things I went through’
Former Manchester City goalkeeper, Alex Williams, reads out loud a piece from a fellow City player's autobiography.
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'Even the simplest words matter'
Presenter Tony Livesey reads out some unusual words which remind him of a journey he went on every year of his childhood.
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'I still will achieve everything just for you three boys'
Jade reads out loud an emotional letter she wrote for her three sons.
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'I decided to talk about my stammer'
BBC Radio 5 Live and Newsround presenter Hayley Hassall speaks about her stammer and the challenges she faced with it at school.
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'She died too young'
Listener Paul Hillier reads out loud a poem written by his late wife before she passed away.
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‘We are Exeter, we’re red and white, we speak together openly’
Hundreds of Exeter City fans read out a poem written by club poet, Rob Casey
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'I don't think I've ever put a note on my fridge before'
BBC presenter Naga Munchetty says a letter from a young fan gives her “hope” when she is feeling battered by the news.
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Why Kae Tempest’s book moved me so much
Kerry Godliman says Kae Tempest's book On Connection moved her as she emerged from the first Covid lockdown.
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'Perseverance wins'
A famous song by Labi Siffre inspires EastEnders actor Rudolph Walker.
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‘Wherever he is right now, David Bowie, I really hope he’s heard that poem’
BBC Radio 6 Music presenter Mary Anne Hobbs reads out loud one of her favourite poems by Lavinia Greenlaw.
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‘My life has been bound by rules'
Parish council internet star Jackie Weaver reads out loud a poem which inspires her to "kick off those shoes".
Word Matters
The Read Out Loud challenge is part of 5 Live’s Word Matters project, a special series of programmes looking at adult literacy.
An estimated nine million adults in the UK find doing things like filling out forms, writing birthday cards or reading bedtime stories a struggle.
To find out more, click here, listen on BBC Sounds or follow the story on social media, using the hashtag #BBCWordMatters.
