Hove-based gay Gogglebox star Daniel Lustig-Webb on turning 50 and his journey with deafness

As Daniel Lustig-Webb, best known for his five year stint on Channel 4’s Gogglebox, marks his 50th birthday and embarks on a new chapter of his life, he’s opening up publicly about something he’s hidden for decades: he’s completely deaf in one ear – a reality that has shaped his life and identity in ways he’s only now ready to share openly. 

Daniel’s journey over the past year has been transformative. Leaving Gogglebox in 2023 and going through a divorce from his husband Stephen, Hove resident Daniel has started a fitness and wellbeing journey focussed on self-acceptance and health. Now, with a renewed sense of purpose, he’s proudly embracing the fact he’s been partially deaf since childhood, something that has made him insecure and reluctant to talk about in the past. 

“I’ve been half deaf since I was a child. I got mumps when I was younger, which caused an infection in my ear, and that left me with complete and permanent hearing loss in one ear. For years, I hid it. I didn’t want people to see me as ‘different’ or less capable. At school, it was tough, I was often picked on and teachers told me I was ‘thick’ because I struggled to concentrate, not realising it was because I couldn’t hear properly. It made me really insecure. I thought I was just failing.” 

Daniel shares how being partially deaf affected his social life and confidence, especially in noisy environments, “Going out with friends, trying to join in conversations at parties, it’s exhausting. You end up guessing what people say or pretending you hear it all. I’d mimic the conversation, hoping no one noticed. But it takes a toll. I’ve had to learn to listen differently, and sometimes I just switch off.” 

Now, hairdresser Daniel is keen to turn that experience into a source of strength, and advocacy, “I feel ready to be open about it. At 50, I feel like it’s finally time to stop hiding and to be proud of who I am. I’m planning to begin learning sign language because I want to connect with the deaf community and support others who might be struggling like I did. Deafness isn’t a weakness, it’s part of me.” 

Daniel’s decision to share his story comes at a time when nearly 11 million people in the UK have some form of hearing loss, about one in six adults. Yet deafness still carries stigma and misunderstanding, something Daniel hopes to change through visibility and education. 

“I want to help break down the myths around deafness. It’s not just about the sounds you can’t hear, it’s about the isolation, the frustration, the way it shapes your world. I’ve seen how people dismiss deafness because it’s ‘invisible’. But it’s real. It’s part of millions of lives. And it should be talked about openly, without shame.” 

Turning 50 has also brought a shift in Daniel’s priorities, “Every decade of my life has felt like a milestone, but this one feels different. This is the first new decade I’ve entered single, so I’m organising my life on my own. I’m focusing on my health in a new way, I’ve got a personal trainer now, and I’m working on balance, fitness and routine. My dad’s 77 and still competing in track events, so I have that inspiration.” 

Daniel is also candid about how embracing his deafness ties into his wider wellness journey, “I want to be honest with myself and others, and I’m more aware of what my body and mind need. I’m learning to love and accept all parts of myself, including my deafness. It’s important to me that people know deafness isn’t something to be afraid of or ashamed of. It’s part of diversity. I want to encourage people to learn sign language and be more inclusive. There are so many incredible deaf people out there, and I want to stand with them. This is the start of a new chapter, one where I’m thriving and being 100% myself.”