Consett-born comedian Lee Ridley joined Robson Green for his Weekend Escapes show and revealed people were "more comfortable" to talk to him as a disabled person after he won Britain's Got Talent.
The pair went for a stroll around the former Derwent Valley railway line, before sailing around the Derwent Reservoir in Thursday's instalment of the BBC show.
Better known as Lost Voice Guy, Lee captured the hearts of the nation with his unique routines on the 12th season of Britain's Got Talent - going on to win the show in 2018.
At the age of six months, Lee was diagnosed with a neurological form of cerebral palsy, brought about by a brain infection that left him in a coma for two months. It affected his movement and rendered him unable to speak.
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Now 42, he communicates via a speech tool on his iPad, which has been updated with a Geordie accent.
On the trip around the North East with Robson, Lee told how his life has changed since winning the show. Speaking to Lee while strolling around the Derwent forests, Robson said: "Go on, tell me. How has winning the amazing Britain's Got Talent - which I watched, it was an amazing moment - how has that changed your life Lee?"
Communicating with Robson through his iPad, Lee replied: "Obviously I'm a lot richer for a start, but please don't tell the Department for Work and Pensions. Seriously though, winning the show has changed my life in so many ways.
"One of the best things to happen since I won is the people that engage with me more than they would have in the past. For the first time, they seem comfortable talking to a disabled person."
Lee also spoke about how humour has helped him cope with his disability growing up, and the impact it still has on his life to this day. Robson asked: "Have you always known from a very early age that you had the ability to make people laugh?"
To which, Lee responded: "I think I've always liked to make people laugh - it just gives me a good feeling. I think that humour definitely helped me cope with everything when I was growing up, and it still helps today.
"I've always been able to see the funny side of my disability, and that's been really helpful. I've lived with my disability for 41 years now, so I've got plenty to talk about. It would be a shame not to use all my experiences."
In the programme, Lee also spoke about growing up in the North East and all of the fantastic things he used to get up to. From drinking in the bars of Consett town centre to relaxing in the amazing parks of the region.
Lee also spoke of how his family still live in the area and how he doesn't think they'll ever move as they "love the countryside too much".
Robson Green's Weekend Escapes airs on BBC2 each weeknight- at 6.30pm.
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