Bilal Fawaz can weave a tale of pain and turmoil like no other - except every word is true.
Born in Nigeria, his Lebanese heritage saw him regularly bullied - not least by his abusive mother.
And when she was murdered in religious riots, Fawaz was promptly taken to live with his 'uncle' in Lagos before, at the age of 14, he was taken to England to be reunited with his father.