Why I Hid My ADHD Diagnosis: Big Brother Stars Speak Out

Today, Ben is joined by two unforgettable voices from Big Brother
UK 2024: show winner and forensic psychologist Ali Bromley, and
her fellow housemate Lily Benson. Both Ali and Lily live with
ADHD, but the way the public saw them couldn’t have been more
different.


In this powerful conversation, Lily reveals why she chose to hide
her diagnosis from the Big Brother team. Ali opens up about the
not-so-subtle ways she witnessed Lilly being misunderstood
and othered, and why some of the reactions inside the house
still haunt her.


Together, they confront the uncomfortable truths about how
neurodivergence is perceived by the wider public, especially when
it doesn’t fit expectations. They unpack the emotional toll of
being made to feel “different” or “odd”, and the quiet strength
that comes from finding an ally when the world feels stacked
against you.


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00:00 Introduction


1:40 How Ali & Lily Describe Their Brains


2:11 ADHD Meds VS The Brain


5:53 The ADHD Daydreamers


6:06 When Lily Was Diagnosed With ADHD


6:32 ADHD Diagnosis VS The School System


9:30 Why Ali Encouraged Lily to Share her ADHD Journey


11:10 ADHD VS The Big Brother House


14:43 Why Ali & Lily Clicked


15:07 Why Lily Wishes She’d Listened to Her Mum


16:36 Big Brother House: What Would Lily Do Differently


17:15 Why Ali’s Protection of Lily is Personal


21:40 Public Reaction: The Cost of “Othering”


22:38 Neurodivergent People: The Social Disrupters


23:52 Do Ali & Lily Regret Going in The Big Brother House?


27:12 ADHD Diagnosis: Why Lily Decided To Go Public


28:49 ADHD Sisters: Why Ali & Lily Love Spending Time With
Each other


30:03 Why Lily Loves Having ADHD & The Most Challenging Parts


31:28 Lily: What ADHD Means To Younger People


32:15 ADHD is Not An Adjective


33:52 Ali on Her Potential Autism Assessment


37:43 Lily: Growing Up in The Digital World Was Normal


38:30 Ali & Lily’s Thoughts on Social Media Neurodivergent
Content


39:47 Lily & Ali’s Advice to The Next Generation of
Neurodivergent Reality Stars


41:45 Managing Public Reaction & Online Trolls


44:04 Trolling: The Real Dangers on the ND Community


46:37 Lily & Ali’s Best Piece of Advice for Supporting
Someone With ADHD


48:12 Lily’s Superwoman Mum: Linda


49:30 Lily’s Green Badge Choice


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On "The Hidden 20%," host Ben Branson chats with neurodivergent
[ADHD, Autism, Dyscalculia, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Tourette's etc.]
creatives, entrepreneurs, and experts to see how great minds..
think differently.


Host: Ben Branson


Head of Production: Bella Neale


Assistant Producer: Phoebe De Leiburné


Video Editor: James Scriven


Social Media Manager: Charlie Young


Music: Jackson Greenberg


Brought to you by charity The Hidden 20% #1203348


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Ben Branson @seedlip_ben


Lily Benson @_lily.benson


Ali Bromley @_ali.bromley


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