The Daily T ‘I wanted to be noticed’: Three famous adoptees on how it made them successful
Dec 12, 2025
In this insightful discussion, Michael Gove, a British politician and journalist; Nicky Campbell, a popular broadcaster; and Andrew Pierce, a seasoned journalist, reflect on their adoption experiences. Each guest shares how being adopted shaped their identities and careers. Gove talks about the impact of being told "we chose you," while Campbell recounts the emotional reunion with his birth family. Pierce reveals the complexities of tracing his birth mother and the influence of adoption on their relentless drive for success. Gratitude for their adoptive parents resonates throughout the conversation.
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Early Adoption Memory And Family Warmth
- Michael Gove was adopted at four months and remembers being told he was chosen by Ernest and Christine when he arrived at Christmas 1967.
- He recalls small childhood details like being bathed in milk and always knowing he was adopted rather than feeling stigmatized.
Nine-Day Adoption And A Curious Drive
- Nicky Campbell was adopted nine days after birth and always knew he was adopted because his mother explained it age-appropriately.
- He credits a loving upbringing and later curiosity that drove him to search and present Long Lost Family stories.
Discovery Through Journalism
- Andrew Pierce was adopted at three and only discovered his birth name while working as a journalist at 34.
- A newspaper search revealed he was born Patrick James Connolly, prompting his later tracing of his birth mother.
