Gary Skyner is a popular comedian, motivational speaker and TV personality who is one of the earliest victims of the Thalidomide scandal of the 1960s. Defying all expectations, Gary has established a highly successful career despite his physical impairment going on to drive a car, earn a pilot’s license and swim the Lock Ness at 60. Proving that there is a way forward to every adversity, Gary is now a popular speaker on topics including equality and diversity, disability awareness, life coaching and staff motivation.
He first discovered his comedic talents at school as a means to stand up against constant bullying and verbal and physical abuse. Deciding to turn his comedic talent into a career, Gary became a stand-up comedian using his wit, humour, and sharp tongue to entertain people at prestigious venues, such as the Intercontinental Hotel in Dubai, Central Pier and Grosvenor House in London. Demonstrating exceptional flair, Gary won the Merseyside Comic of The Year three times in a row and has starred in the Big Talents Show and Jonathan Ross Big.
Moreover, Gary has made appearances on notable TV stations, including Sky News, ITV, BBC, Loose Women and Channel 4 to raise awareness of the Thalidomide scandal and discuss the impact it has had on his life. He was also featured in the distinguished BBC documentary Thalidomide Life at Forty, which unpacks the lives of three Thalidomide survivors and celebrates their successes and triumphs. In his book You Can’t, You Won’t, Gary provides a heartfelt account of his life growing up as a Thalidomide child, revealing predictions that he would die as a baby, merely survive as a child and never succeed as an adult. The biography was adapted into an award-winning play titled Mother’s Ruin which won the best drama award at the Liverpool Fringe Festival in 2022.
Referred to as Monster Baby and rejected by his father, Gary had a turbulent start to life but was saved by a devoted mother who ensured he could have all the opportunities to reach his full potential. Defying all odds and possessing an unrivalled drive and determination to succeed, Gary inspires audiences in his speaking engagements. As such, he is an extremely popular speaker for overcoming adversity, mental resilience, and building confidence, sharing anecdotes that captivate his audiences and encouraging them to be optimistic no matter what the adversity.
