Broadcaster Jake Humphrey has delivered his annual message of hope to students left disappointed by their A-level results.
The High Performance Podcast host has made a habit of posting can-do messages on social media around this time every year following his much publicised heartache after failure as a youngster.
On Thursday morning, students up and down the country received their A-level results and found out whether or not they gained entry to their university of choice, were accepted onto a preferred apprenticeship or landed a job role.
Humphrey took to social media to share a message from his dad, who had reached out to remind him of the 45-year-old’s sombre August morning in 1997 and stress how far he has come since that disappointment.
Humphrey’s post on X also included an image of his results, in which he received a U, N and an E in English Literature, Government and Politics and Psychology.
Jake Humphrey has offered a message of hope to students left disappointed by their A-level results
The broadcaster posted a message his dad had sent reminding him of his journey over the last 28 years
Humphrey also posted an image of his results in 1997, which included a U, E and N
‘Morning Jacob,’ the message from his dad read. ’28 years ago this morning you got results you didn’t want that surely turned out or the best.
‘It was a bit stressful but what wonder what would had happened had you had your present work ethic when you did your a-levels? Life takes interesting courses.’
The former BT Sports presenter said in his post: ‘This is a text from my Dad this morning. It was the love, patience and understanding of my parents that got me through my a-level results day.
‘If someone in your life hasn’t got the results they want today, put an arm around and show love. Their future is far from written…’
Users on X were quick to mock Humphrey for his most recent motivational message.
‘Every year, without fail, Jake Humphrey reminds us on A Level day how incredible he is. I genuinely don’t know what I would have done without this information.’ Said one particularly sarcastic user.
Another joked: ‘Why do you call your own dad Rex? Is it not high performance to say Dad?’
Fans have been quick to mock the former BT Sports presenter for his yearly inspirational message
‘It wouldn’t be exam results day without a Jake Humphrey special,’ commented a third.
Humphrey left BT upon its rebrand to TNT Sports, replaced by Laura Woods as the front of Premier League and Champions League shows.
Earlier this year, he admitted he is unlikely to return to presenting football after receiving a barrage of hate on social media.
Speaking to The Athletic, Humphrey described his fear of online abuse, and revealed that he is likely to have turned his back on a career that didn’t bring him too much joy.
‘I still get triggered with things like this because my head goes, “You have this great conversation, you’ve been really honest. What headline do they pick?” he said. ‘Because that can then just bring me more heat, more hate.
‘In some ways, it makes you think, “What’s the point even talking about this stuff?” But then I think I should talk about it, because this is a lived experience that I wouldn’t want someone else to live.
‘It’s hard when you’re just going to work to try to earn your money and pay your mortgage and feed your kids, and you’re getting pelters from people who assume you hate their football club, or that you’re not very good at your job.
The 45-year-old admitted that he found it difficult to deal with the barrage of hate he suffered online
‘That ground me down. I’m just not very good at dealing with that sort of stuff. I remember saying to Gary Lineker, ‘”How do you deal with that?”. And he said, “I don’t care about it, it bounces off me”.
‘I would go, “Yeah, I’m gonna feel the same”, but I just couldn’t. I never felt comfortable with that sort of criticism, because I don’t understand it. For someone to think I’m not very good at my job is fine but some of it strayed into bullying territory.’