An extremely tall man has shed a light on what life is like at 6ft 7in - and he says gawpers make him feel like a "freak show". Stephen Brown, now 43, reached his current height aged just 17 - meaning he has experienced decades of comments.
He says he can't leave the house without strangers asking 'how the weather is up there' or telling him to 'mind his head'. The dad-of-three struggles to buy clothes off the rack and is hemmed in on plane seats - or is forced to pay for extra leg room.
Stephen, from Basildon, Essex, admits that being super tall isn't great - and if there was an operation to make himself shorter, he would have it.
The professional singer said: "Sometimes I feel like I'm in a freak show.
"I went to get my shopping the other day and a woman behind the counter said, 'Oh my god, you're tall'.
"She got up from behind the counter to tell everyone to look. People ask me for photos and say 'watch your head mate'.
"Someone called me tree man the other day and I said to him, 'I'll give you that one on originality'. I have a sense of humour about it."
Stephen doesn't blame people for noticing his height, but he says he can't stand some of the unwarranted remarks from strangers - especially when they all warn him to watch his head.
He said: "I can't do anything about being 6ft7in. People aren't always unkind - but I don't expect strangers to make comments.
"When I interact with people and they don't say anything it makes me warm to them, I think what a great bloke or a great woman."
He admires author and ex-Pointless star Richard Osman for speaking out about being tall.
He said: "Richard Osman is a UK legend and has amazing success. He has spoken out about what it's like to be 6ft7ins. I have less insecurities about it now."
Stephen buys most of his clothes online and has to use specialist big and tall clothing suppliers - but sometimes things will increase in width but not necessarily length.
"I could go shopping with thousands of pounds and I wouldn't be able to find anything," he said.
Travelling via plane can also prove problematic with limited leg space.
"The last time I flew long distance I had to have my legs sideways out of the seat, the drink trolley couldn't get through so I got moved to have three seats to lie across," he said.
"It was quite surreal."
Stephen married 5ft 6ins Melanie, 42, in January 2013 and they have three daughters aged eight, six and four.
However, there were times when he was single he felt self-conscious of his height.
"When I was single and wanted to chat to a girl, they would say I was too tall," he said.
"If I walk into a pub, I want to just get my drink and sit down like everyone else without being commented on."
According to Stephen, the most common jibes he gets are 'what's the weather like up there?', 'are you a basketballer?' and 'watch your head'.
Stephen retains a sense of humour with his mates and finds having to duck under every door frame in his house amusing.
He said: "I'm so happy with my life I can look beyond these things. I would say I have a great life but if I was 6ft 4ins it would be perfect.
"If there was an operation you could have to make you three inches smaller, I would have it."
Stephen has written a poem about his experience on his Facebook page 'LADpoem'.
Are you extremely tall? Get in touch. Email nia.dalton@reachplc.com.
