what happened to chris kamara

Former footballer and broadcaster Chris Kamara ( stepped back from regular live television in 2022 after being diagnosed with apraxia of speech, a rare neurological motor speech disorder. Alongside an underactive thyroid, the condition disrupted the signals between his brain and mouth, slowing down his speech and affecting his balance.

Diagnosis and TV Departure

• Condition. After viewers noticed slurred and slowed speech during broadcasts, Kamara publicly shared his apraxia of speech diagnosis in March 2022.
• Stepping back. Later that year, he left his iconic 24-year role on Sky Sports—including Soccer Saturday and Goals on Sunday—to focus on his physical and mental health.
• Mental health impact. Kamara has spoken candidly about feeling isolated and struggling with his identity after losing his trademark fast-paced delivery, noting that opening up publicly was a major turning point in his recovery.

Recovery and Health Updates

• Treatment and progress. Following speech therapy and specialized treatments abroad, Kamara reported that his speech fluency has improved significantly. While he notes he cannot speak as rapidly as he used to, he has embraced his “new self”.
• Prostate cancer scare. In 2026, Kamara revealed he had previously undergone testing after a routine blood test showed elevated PSA levels. Subsequent monitoring confirmed he was cancer-free, prompting him to campaign heavily for early testing with Prostate Cancer UK.

Recent Activities

• Selective broadcasting and tours. While no longer working full-time on live TV, Kamara makes selective appearances, including guest football analysis, TV interviews, and live stage tours with his close friend and former co-host Ben Shephard.
• Charity and honors. In September 2026, Kamara completed the Great North Run alongside Shephard and his son Jack to raise funds for prostate cancer research. He also received an honorary doctorate from the University of Bradford in recognition of his health advocacy and charity work.