Personal
During the early 1990s, Mabbutt dated actress Sophie Lawrence, most famed for her role as Diane Butcher in EastEnders, for two years. Mabbutt has type 1 diabetes, and became an icon for many children with the condition. He famously appeared on the BBC's children's television programme Blue Peter where he demonstrated injecting insulin into an orange to show how he dealt with his condition on a daily basis.
Another CBBC appearance came in the drama series The Queen's Nose, an adaptation of the book by Dick King-Smith. Mabbutt appeared in a cameo as himself, appearing in the nick of time to help save a children's football team from defeat.
He served as an ambassador for the 2010 World Cup Finals in South Africa. He is also working with the Deloitte Street Child World Cup, training and encouraging street children and ex-street children in football and for street children's rights in Durban, South Africa. This is run by the Amos Trust.
Read more about this topic: Gary Mabbutt
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